Protest rally in Paris denounces civilian killings in Sudan's El-Fashir city

PARIS

Two French MPs joined hundreds of people to stage a protest march in Paris against the killing of civilians in Sudan on Saturday, urging international action to put an end to the violence.

Protesters, including MPs Gabrielle Cathala and Carlos Martens Bilango, assembled at Bastille Square at 3 pm local time in solidarity with the Sudanese people.

They observed a minute of silence in memory of civilians killed in and around the city of El-Fashir, capital of the North Darfur State, one of the areas worst affected by the ongoing conflict.

Chanting “Freedom for Sudan,” “Rapid Support Forces are guilty,” and “Solidarity with Sudan,” the crowd marched to Place de la Nation, demanding peace and justice for the Sudanese population.

Many held banners reading “Sudanese people are working day and night to stay alive” and “Be silent when people are sleeping, not when they are dying,” underscoring their plea for global awareness.

Protesters urged the international community to intervene to stop civilian deaths and support efforts for peace in Sudan.

Since April 15, 2023, the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Security Forces (RSF) have been locked in a war that numerous regional and international mediations have failed to end. The conflict has killed about 20,000 people and displaced over 15 million as refugees and internally displaced persons, according to UN and local reports.

Early on Saturday, the medical group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) expressed concern for the lives of thousands of civilians trapped inside El-Fasher following the RSF’s takeover of the city.

MSF said its teams in Tawila had prepared to deal with a mass influx of displaced people and wounded individuals after the city’s fall to the RSF.

On Wednesday, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) admitted that “violations” had occurred by his forces in El-Fasher, claiming that investigation committees had been formed.