At least 175 people killed, dozens injured in separate strikes in Sudan
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A man walks past a house damaged in recent clashes in Khartoum, a city devastated by ongoing fighting between the military and the infamous Rapid Support Forces, April 25, 2023.
At least 175 people have been confirmed dead and dozens more injured following a series of airstrikes on Sudan’s capital on Monday and Tuesday. The attacks are believed to have been carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group currently embroiled in a violent conflict with Sudan’s military.
The first airstrike occurred on Monday in Kabkabiya, a market town located 180 kilometers west of North Darfur. Rights organizations reported that the attack killed at least 100 civilians, including women and children. In a separate incident, a shell struck a passenger bus, resulting in the death of all 22 passengers on board. Ahmed Othman Hamza, a local official, described the attack as a “massacre” perpetrated by the RSF.
The violence escalated on Tuesday with a brutal attack in Omdurman, a region controlled by the Sudanese army. Local officials reported at least 65 people killed and more than 100 injured during the fighting. The attack marks one of the deadliest clashes of the year between Sudan’s regular army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by his former ally, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
Sudan, a predominantly Arab nation located at the crossroads of North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, has been in the midst of civil war since 2023. The conflict erupted after tensions between the military and the RSF escalated into open warfare. The RSF, which originated from the Janjaweed militia infamous for its role in the Darfur conflict, has grown into a powerful force under Dagalo’s leadership. The violence has devastated Sudan, leading to an estimated 24,000 deaths and displacing millions of people.
Despite the staggering death toll and humanitarian crisis, the conflict in Sudan has not received the same level of global attention as other ongoing wars, such as those in the Middle East and Ukraine. The international community has struggled to respond effectively to the situation, leaving Sudanese civilians to bear the brunt of the violence.
The RSF’s recent airstrikes and attacks on civilians are part of an ongoing campaign by both sides in a brutal power struggle that has ravaged Sudan for nearly 20 months. The military, which has been in control of the government since 2021, and the RSF, once allied under General al-Burhan, have become bitter enemies. Their infighting has left Sudan in chaos, with no end in sight to the bloodshed.
The devastating airstrikes have drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations, which accuse the RSF of committing atrocities against innocent civilians. The attacks have further exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation in Sudan, where millions have been forced to flee their homes due to the fighting. The country’s health infrastructure has also been severely impacted, with hospitals struggling to cope with the influx of casualties from the ongoing violence.
As the conflict continues, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene and provide humanitarian assistance. However, diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire or peace agreement between the warring factions have so far failed to make significant progress. The situation remains volatile, with little hope for a resolution in the near future.
In the face of these atrocities, many Sudanese civilians have been left to endure the brutal consequences of a war that shows no sign of ending. With the RSF and the Sudanese army locked in a deadly struggle for control, the people of Sudan continue to suffer the devastating effects of a conflict that has ravaged their country.
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