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Situation in Sudan (per 17 October)
- At least 23 people were killed in an airstrike by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) which hit a market, targeting Rapid Support Forces (RSF) positions in southern Khartoum.
- Military officers in Sudan have arrested and detained a group of Christians from Nuba Mountain who were fleeing Khartoum, according to Sudanese civil society organisations. They were arrested between 2 and 7 October. The group is reportedly accused of working with the RSF.
- 14 communities in Kutum locality, North Darfur, have reportedly suffered from arson attacks between 2 and 12 October, causing damage to houses and subsequent displacement of population from these areas, according to the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health (Yale HRL).
- Zaghawa communities were likely intentionally attacked, according to Yale HRL, as they were previously victims of systematic ethnic targeting by the RSF and allied forces in and around El Fasher.
- Several locations in El Geneina, West Darfur, were bombed by SAF on Monday, damaging the airport and surrounding areas.
Situation in South Sudan (per 17 October)
- Staff at the university of Rumbek have initiated a strike due to 9 months of unpaid wages, and are calling for an open strike.
- Last week, Bahr el Ghazal university staff threatened an indefinite strike over failure to pay the salaries for the last 11 months.
- Clashes between former commanders of the National Salvation Front (NAS) in the Wonduruba Administrative Area resulted in over 20 fatalities. This included nine civilians.
- The forces engaged in the fighting included forces of Gen. Kennedy Kenyi Abdu, also known as Kenyi Warrior, who defected to the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in June last year, and AS splinter group forces led by John Kenyi Lotio.
Situation in Ethiopia (per 17 October)
- The Ethiopian army has been reportedly carrying out airstrikes using helicopters and drones in the Amhara region. There were drone attacks seen around Bahir Dar, targeting schools and administrative buildings, as Fano militia groups have tended to take shelter there in the past.
- Around 50 children were reportedly killed and a large number of children injured.
- Drone attacks are also being scaled up around Gondar.
- The communications shutdown is preventing more information from filtering out. However, flight trackers confirm an increase in drone and helicopter activity in the region.
- The location of a drone attack that killed 30 civilians in the Amhara region in February 2024 was pinpointed to a four-way intersection in the North Shewa Zone. The place was geolocated by The Continent.
- Seven people have been reported dead and eight missing in Sadika Karsa kebele, Oromia region, since 10 October, when the Ethiopian government forces rounded up civilians in the village accusing them of being linked to Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).
Situation in Tigray (per 17 October)
- Restoring the education system in the Tigray region, which was significantly damaged during the two-year war, needs an investment of about $5.65 billion, confirmed the Tigray Regional Education Bureau in consultation with various stakeholders.
- 1,238 schools in Mekelle have been partially destroyed while 575 schools have been fully destroyed. Alongside material damage in Tigray, thousands of teachers in the region died due to the war.
- Mekelle residents organised a protest to voice dissatisfaction with the housing initiative change by the Tigray Regional Interim Administration (IRA) shifting the project from building individual G+1 houses to apartment buildings.
- Residents who have been saving for their new houses since 2019 say that the change in housing scheme goes against the original agreement and accuse the IRA of depriving them of the right to acquire land.
Regional Situation (per 17 October)
- A South Sudanese delegation held discussions with Sudan’s government representatives in Port Sudan over resumption of crude oil export through Sudan which has been halted for 7 months. Several key facilities remain under the control of the RSF.
- Both parties agreed on technical requirements for resuming oil operations putting the safety of workers, technicians and engineers at the forefront of the initiative.
Refugee and Migration Situation (per 17 October)
- Sudanese refugees residing in the Amhara region, Ethiopia, have been subjected to abuse by various gunmen and armed groups amid ongoing fighting Ethiopian government forces and militias, says Human Rights Watch (HRW).
- Calling on the Ethiopian government, HRW urged for increased refugee safety in the Amhara region, protection from armed groups and delivery of humanitarian assistance to Sudanese refugees.
- 25,000 Sudanese refugees fled to Chad during the first week of October constituting the highest influx since the beginning of 2024, reports the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
- The first boat with 16 asylum seekers onboard arrived from Italy to Albania’s Shengjin on Wednesday. Under a controversial deal between the two countries, Albania will keep asylum seekers in two newly constructed reception centres while Italy processes their applications.
- Migration is one of the central topics of discussion during the EU summit organised in Brussels between 17-18 October. EU leaders are expected to discuss outsourcing asylum procedures, increasing and accelerating returns, as well as strengthening control of the EU’s external borders.
- France aims to introduce a stricter immigration law in 2025, extending the detention period of illegal migrants and people deemed as dangerous from a maximum of 90 days to 210 days.
Links of interest
Sudan: Shoppers killed as Khartoum air strikes hit busy market
Sudanese military arrests Christians fleeing fighting in Khartoum Bahri
Special Report:Fourteen Arson Attacks on Villages, North Darfur 2-12 October 2024
Darfur residents ‘flee homes in panic’ as SAF bombs major cities
Bahr el Ghazal University staff threaten indefinite strike
Over 20 dead in clashes between ex-NAS commanders in Wonduruba
News: Seven dead, eight missing in Oromia’s Arsi Zone as gov’t forces accused of targeting civilians
የትግራይ ክልል የትምህርት ዘርፍን መልሶ ለማቋቋም ከአምስት ቢሊዮን ዶላር በላይ ያስፈልጋል ተባለ
South Sudan delegation in Port Sudan for oil export restart talks
Ethiopia: Fighting, Abuses Putting Sudanese Refugees at Risk
World News in Brief: Sudan’s refugee crisis
Italy sends first asylum seekers to Albania under controversial deal
Migration set to dominate EU summit as calls for outsourcing grow louder
French government to propose tougher immigration laws in 2025
Disclaimer: All information in this Situation Report is presented as a fluid update report, as to the best knowledge and understanding of the authors at the moment of publication. EEPA does not claim that the information is correct but verifies to the best of ability within the circumstances. Publication is weighed on the basis of interest to understand potential impacts of events (or perceptions of these) on the situation. Check all information against updates and other media. EEPA does not take responsibility for the use of the information or impact thereof. All information reported originates from third parties and the content of all reported and linked information remains the sole responsibility of these third parties. Report to info@eepa.be any additional information and corrections.