Clashes between Sudan’s army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) remained more intense on Sunday, as the conflict in the country’s capital and western regions entered its 12th week.

Air and artillery strikes, as well as small arms fire, could be heard, notably in Omdurman and Khartoum, as the conflict escalates into a humanitarian crisis and threatens to engulf other areas.

The violence has also spread to cities in the western Kordofan and Darfur regions, especially of El Geneina, where the RSF and Arab militias have been accused of mass killings.

On Sunday, the army shared images of fresh recruits barely a week after General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan called on young Sudanese to join the war against the RSF. This is an indication that the war may not stop anytime soon.

Meanwhile, a Sudanese government agency named Combating Violence Against Women Unit, said it had recorded 88 cases of sexual assault in Khartoum, El Geneina, and Nyala, capital of South Darfur, with victims in most cases accusing the RSF.

Since the outbreak of the war in Sudan over two months ago, the RSF has been accused of human rights violations including sexual violence, kidnappings, looting of homes, occupation of health facilities for military purposes, and assaults against medical personnel.

The rival paramilitary group earlier denied the claim. On June 26, the leader of the RSF, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo admitted that his men had violated civilians. He also declared the formation of field courts to prosecute the culprits.

The war in the north African country has displaced scores of people with hundreds of thousands of foreigners already evacuated back home.

The actual number of casualties, both fatalities and injuries, remain unknown at this time despite several estimations.

Reuters