Sudan air strike causes ‘horrific massacre’ in a Darfur market
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People gather around the bodies of victims killed in an attack by paramilitary forces in Omdurman, Sudan, on December 10, 2024. © Global Look Press/Khartoum State Government
Sudan’s military has been accused of carrying out a deadly airstrike on a marketplace in the western region of Darfur, killing more than 100 people. The attack, which occurred in Kabkabiya town on Monday, was described by the Emergency Lawyers rights group as a “horrific massacre.” Kabkabiya’s market, held on Mondays, was filled with people from surrounding villages who had come to buy and sell goods. This incident marks another devastating chapter in the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The airstrike is just the latest escalation in a violent power struggle that has raged for 19 months between Sudan’s army and the RSF. The conflict, which began in April 2023, has triggered what the United Nations has called the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, displacing over 11 million people. Both sides have denied accusations of war crimes, though the international community continues to document widespread atrocities.
Emergency Lawyers reported that the bombing took place as hundreds of civilians, including traders and families, were in the market. The town of Kabkabiya is located about 180 kilometers (112 miles) west of El-Fasher, the only major city in Darfur still under military control. Since April, El-Fasher has been under siege. The rights group condemned the attack, stating that the bombing of a civilian market on a market day is a clear violation of international law.
The group also reported hundreds of injuries from the airstrike. “This attack on civilians on market day is a flagrant violation of international law,” Emergency Lawyers stated, emphasizing the severity of the situation in Darfur.
In addition to the bombing in Kabkabiya, the RSF has been accused of indiscriminate attacks elsewhere in Sudan. Emergency Lawyers condemned the RSF for shelling civilian areas in Omdurman, the city just across the River Nile from Khartoum, the capital. On Tuesday, a shell hit a bus, killing at least 14 people. The RSF has also been criticized for using civilian infrastructure for military purposes, such as turning fuel stations into military sites. On Sunday, an airstrike targeted a petrol station in an RSF-controlled area of Khartoum, killing at least 28 people and injuring 37.
The Sudanese army has fighter jets, but it denies deliberately targeting civilians. A military spokesperson defended the airstrikes, stating that they were part of a legitimate effort to defend the country. The army also vowed to continue targeting RSF sites, which it claims are often concealed within residential areas. Despite these claims, the military’s actions have sparked widespread condemnation, with many international organizations accusing both sides of deliberately targeting civilians and committing war crimes.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a call for the United Nations and the African Union to urgently deploy peacekeeping forces to protect Sudanese civilians. HRW’s latest report highlights the ongoing atrocities in Sudan, with particular focus on the RSF and allied Arab militias. These groups have been accused of committing widespread killings, rapes, and abductions, particularly in South Kordofan. HRW stated that these attacks, which are expected to continue into 2024, are part of a larger pattern of ethnic cleansing in West Darfur.
HRW researcher Jean-Baptiste Gallopin expressed concern over the escalating violence: “The Rapid Support Forces’ abuse of civilians in South Kordofan is emblematic of continuing atrocities across Sudan. These new findings underscore the urgent need for the deployment of a mission to protect civilians in Sudan.” The report also detailed the growing threat to human rights in the country as violence continues to spread.
In addition to the violence in Darfur, human rights organizations have documented abuses in other parts of Sudan, including the ongoing ethnic violence in West Darfur. The situation in South Kordofan is also dire, with the RSF and militias continuing their attacks on civilian populations. These attacks have been met with limited international intervention, despite growing calls for action.
The US government, through special envoy Tom Perriello, has estimated that as many as 150,000 people may have been killed in the conflict, further underscoring the humanitarian crisis. With no end in sight to the fighting, the international community remains under pressure to find ways to protect Sudanese civilians and prevent further bloodshed.
As the war in Sudan continues to unfold, the world watches with growing alarm as the military and RSF escalate their violent struggle, leaving civilians caught in the crossfire.
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