KHARTOUM: The nine-month-long conflict in Sudan, characterized by clashes between rival generals, is now posing an alarming threat to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ancient Kingdom of Kush, warns the Regional Network for Cultural Rights.
The organization strongly condemns the recent incursion by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), paramilitary forces led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, into the historical sites of Naqa and Musawwarat es-Sufra.
The RSF forces, engaged in a protracted battle against troops loyal to Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan since April of the previous year, have now extended their conflict to the UNESCO-listed archaeological sites. The incident, occurring on Sunday, marks the second time in recent months that fighting has erupted at these religious sites, situated in the northern River Nile state.
State authorities reported an RSF incursion, repulsed by the air force, and claimed that calm has been restored, although they did not specify whether the sites suffered damage. The Regional Network for Cultural Rights, relying on reliable sources and images from social networks, expressed concerns about potential vandalism, destruction, looting, and theft during the conflict.
ALSO READ: Sudan Suspends Ties with East African Block, IGAD, Over Sovereignty Violation
UNESCO recognizes the archaeological sites on the Island of Meroe, located approximately 220 kilometers from Khartoum, as the heartland of the Kingdom of Kush. This World Heritage Site encompasses pyramids, temples, and dwellings dating back thousands of years. The Island of Meroe, positioned between the Nile and Atbara rivers, reflects the ancient civilization’s cultural amalgamation, drawing influence from Pharaonic Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
The conflict’s encroachment on these historical treasures is not only a threat to Sudan’s rich heritage but also to the collective human heritage. The Island of Meroe stands as a testament to the achievements of ancient Sudanese civilizations, which, despite constructing more pyramids than Egypt, remain relatively unknown on the global stage.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has taken a heavy toll, with over 13,000 casualties reported since its commencement in April, according to estimates by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. The United Nations highlights that more than seven million people have been displaced amid the intensifying humanitarian crisis.
The urgent need for international intervention to safeguard cultural heritage and address the humanitarian fallout from the conflict in Sudan is underscored by the potential loss of irreplaceable historical treasures.
