At least 40 people in Sudan have been killed in a drone strike that targeted a funeral taking place outside the army-held city of el-Obeid in North Kordofan state, according to officials and activists. The attack occurred in al-Luweib village as mourners gathered in a tent, with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) being blamed for the strike. Many reportedly succumbed to their injuries before they could reach hospitals in el-Obeid, a city that plays a crucial role in connecting the capital, Khartoum, to the western region of Darfur.
Fighting in the Kordofan area has escalated, leading to an influx of about 20,000 people fleeing to el-Obeid after the RSF captured the nearby town of Bara last week. This town fell concurrently with el-Fasher, which had been the army's final stronghold in Darfur, resulting in reports of mass killings, sexual violence, abductions, and extensive looting by RSF fighters. The United Nations has warned that acts of summary executions by RSF personnel have been documented in Bara.
Such atrocities could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, as highlighted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The RSF leader has vowed to investigate these violations but has denied allegations suggesting ethnically motivated killings targeting non-Arab populations. The ICC's warnings come as global food security experts confirm that residents of el-Fasher are experiencing famine as a result of a protracted siege by the RSF. Meanwhile, the UN chief António Guterres has called for a cessation of violence in Sudan, citing the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
The North Kordofan Resistance Committee reported the drone attack occurred on Monday, stating that drones belonging to the RSF targeted citizens at the funeral, leading to the significant loss of life. Following the outbreak of civil war in April 2023, more than 150,000 people have died, and about 12 million have been displaced, with the UN deeming this the world's largest humanitarian crisis.
Fighting in the Kordofan area has escalated, leading to an influx of about 20,000 people fleeing to el-Obeid after the RSF captured the nearby town of Bara last week. This town fell concurrently with el-Fasher, which had been the army's final stronghold in Darfur, resulting in reports of mass killings, sexual violence, abductions, and extensive looting by RSF fighters. The United Nations has warned that acts of summary executions by RSF personnel have been documented in Bara.
Such atrocities could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, as highlighted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The RSF leader has vowed to investigate these violations but has denied allegations suggesting ethnically motivated killings targeting non-Arab populations. The ICC's warnings come as global food security experts confirm that residents of el-Fasher are experiencing famine as a result of a protracted siege by the RSF. Meanwhile, the UN chief António Guterres has called for a cessation of violence in Sudan, citing the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
The North Kordofan Resistance Committee reported the drone attack occurred on Monday, stating that drones belonging to the RSF targeted citizens at the funeral, leading to the significant loss of life. Following the outbreak of civil war in April 2023, more than 150,000 people have died, and about 12 million have been displaced, with the UN deeming this the world's largest humanitarian crisis.
