Sudan’s Capital Khartoum Hit by Deadly Air Attack Amid Ongoing Conflict
Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, was hit by an air attack on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of at least 17 people, including five children. The attack was one of the deadliest in the ongoing clashes between rival generals seeking to control the country. The fighting has been taking place between the military and a powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The bombing hit the Yarmouk neighbourhood in southern Khartoum, where clashes have centred in recent weeks. The area houses a military facility controlled by the army.
The Conflict in Sudan
The conflict in Sudan broke out in mid-April, capping months of increasing tensions between Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the respective leaders of the military and the RSF. The clashes have killed hundreds of civilians and wounded thousands of others. More than 2.2 million people have fled their homes to safer areas inside Sudan or crossed into neighbouring countries.
Worsening Fighting
The paramilitary force has occupied people’s houses and other civilian properties since the onset of the fighting, according to residents and activists. Along with Khartoum, fighting has raged in Darfur, a sprawling area in western Sudan. El-Geneina, the provincial capital of West Darfur province, has experienced some of the worst battles in the conflict, with tens of thousands of its residents fleeing to neighbouring Chad. Arab militias have recently joined the clashes in el-Geneina on the side of the RSF, according to residents and activists.
The Aftermath of the Attack
A number of civilian casualties were taken to the Bashair Hospital, according to Sudan’s health ministry. At least 25 houses were destroyed in the attack. The dead included five children and an unknown number of women and elderly people. The ministry referred to the Yarmouk attack as a “massacre”. It was not clear whether the attack was by aircraft or a drone. The military’s aircraft have repeatedly targeted RSF troops, while the paramilitary force has reportedly used drones and anti-aircraft weapons against army positions.
The RSF’s Response
In a statement, the RSF alleged that the military’s aircraft bombed the area, killing and wounding civilians. It also claimed it downed a military MiG fighter jet, but that could not be independently verified. A military spokesman did not respond to messages seeking comment. In a video published on Friday on the army’s Facebook page, deputy army chief Yasser Atta warned civilians to keep away from houses where the RSF are located because the military “will attack them at any time.”
International Aid and Protection
A record 25 million people – more than half the population – are in need of aid and protection, according to the United Nations, which said it has received only a fraction of the necessary funding. Saudi Arabia has announced an international pledging conference for Monday in Geneva.
Conclusion
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and the displacement of millions of people. The recent air attack in Khartoum is one of the deadliest in the urban areas of Khartoum between the military and the RSF paramilitary group. The situation in Sudan is dire, and international aid and protection are urgently needed to help those affected by the conflict.