In a devastating turn of events, a Sudanese war-monitoring group has charged the military with conducting an airstrike that killed hundreds at a market in Darfur, signalling an alarming escalation in the ongoing conflict that erupted in April 2023.
Sudan Military Allegedly Conducts Fatal Airstrike on Darfur Market
Sudan Military Allegedly Conducts Fatal Airstrike on Darfur Market
Accusations swirl as Sudanese armed forces face backlash for alleged airstrike that claimed hundreds of lives in Darfur.
The Emergency Lawyers group, which tracks human rights abuses amidst the civil turmoil, labeled the airstrike on the Tur'rah market a “horrific massacre” and reported extensive injuries among the civilian population. Disturbing footage shared on social media platforms shows the aftermath—charred bodies and ruined stalls—while the army's rival paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), claimed responsibility for circulating this footage.
Responding to the accusations, a spokesperson for the Sudanese military denied deliberately targeting civilians, asserting the attack focused solely on enemy positions. However, both the army and RSF have faced criticism for indiscriminately shelling civilian areas throughout the conflict. Despite the RSF's utilization of drones, it's the Sudanese army armed with warplanes that has consistently bombarded RSF strongholds across Darfur.
A Darfur initiative group reported that the deadly airstrike occurred Monday, marking it as the “deadliest single bombing since the onset of the war.” While the exact death toll remains unconfirmed by independent sources, reports suggest that civilian casualties from bombardments have surged in recent months amidst intensifying combat.
The turmoil in Sudan has led to a staggering displacement crisis, with approximately 12 million people—comparable to the entire populations of Belgium or Tunisia—forced from their homes. As famine grips the country, the UN has highlighted a widespread breakdown in food security, with more than half of the nation experiencing dire conditions.
While the RSF has vehemently denied allegations of genocide and ethnic cleansing in Darfur, the UN has tagged Sudan as the epicenter of the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis. As the death toll from the ongoing combat is estimated to be around 150,000, the international community watches closely as the situation continues to deteriorate.
Responding to the accusations, a spokesperson for the Sudanese military denied deliberately targeting civilians, asserting the attack focused solely on enemy positions. However, both the army and RSF have faced criticism for indiscriminately shelling civilian areas throughout the conflict. Despite the RSF's utilization of drones, it's the Sudanese army armed with warplanes that has consistently bombarded RSF strongholds across Darfur.
A Darfur initiative group reported that the deadly airstrike occurred Monday, marking it as the “deadliest single bombing since the onset of the war.” While the exact death toll remains unconfirmed by independent sources, reports suggest that civilian casualties from bombardments have surged in recent months amidst intensifying combat.
The turmoil in Sudan has led to a staggering displacement crisis, with approximately 12 million people—comparable to the entire populations of Belgium or Tunisia—forced from their homes. As famine grips the country, the UN has highlighted a widespread breakdown in food security, with more than half of the nation experiencing dire conditions.
While the RSF has vehemently denied allegations of genocide and ethnic cleansing in Darfur, the UN has tagged Sudan as the epicenter of the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis. As the death toll from the ongoing combat is estimated to be around 150,000, the international community watches closely as the situation continues to deteriorate.
