Africa Correspondent
Halima Gikandi is the Africa Correspondent at The World. She covers the continent, with a focus on politics, security and human rights.
Halima Gikandi is The World’s Africa Correspondent based in Nairobi, Kenya. She reports on current affairs in Africa, with a focus on politics, security and human rights. Her reporting has taken her across the continent, from Sudan to South Africa.Before joining The World in 2019, Halima was a freelance journalist based in East Africa, where she covered major regional events like the political revolution in Sudan and the Dusit terrorist attack in Nairobi.
The fighting between Sudan’s Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary militia broke out last April following tensions over integrating the two forces. Those plans were part of an effort to transition Sudan to a civilian-led democracy after years of dictatorship. Now, the country is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in the world. The fighting has led more than 7 million people to flee their homes.
Fighting continued on Wednesday on the outskirts of Sudan’s capital, Khartoum. A short-term ceasefire is in place, but the United Nations says it is only partially successful. Over the last 12 days, hundreds of people have been killed. Sudanese residents from the capital region are making tough decisions about leaving.
The fighting between Sudan’s rival armed forces continues to have a devastating impact on civilians and civilian infrastructure across the country. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed. The fighting has also damaged Sudan’s health facilities, making it difficult for the country’s health workers to help those caught in the crosshairs.
The country’s military, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary began fighting on Saturday, following weeks of tensions. Pressure from international and regional players has so far failed to deescalate the conflict.