By Thabo Mosia
In a deadly escalation of Sudan’s ongoing conflict, the Sudanese military conducted an air strike on a busy marketplace in Khartoum on Saturday, killing at least 23 people and injuring more than 40 others. This attack has been one of the most devastating to civilians in recent weeks, as the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rages on .
Context of the Attack and the Ongoing Conflict
The air strike took place in Khartoum’s Southern Belt region, an area heavily contested between the SAF and the RSF. This particular market was filled with vendors and shoppers, making the incident especially tragic for local residents. As one of the primary battlegrounds, Khartoum has seen repeated attacks on civilian areas since the conflict intensified in April 2023. The rivalry between SAF leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo has resulted in widespread displacement and thousands of civilian casualties .
Civilian Casualties and International Response
The local volunteer rescue group, the Emergency Response Rooms, confirmed the death toll, expressing concerns over the growing number of civilian casualties. According to reports, local hospitals are overwhelmed by the influx of injured individuals, struggling to provide adequate care. Humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations, have called for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further harm to civilians and to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid .
A Major Humanitarian Crisis
The conflict has created what the UN has described as one of the world’s largest displacement crises. More than 10 million people have been forced to leave their homes, with some fleeing to neighbouring countries. Food shortages and a surge in cholera cases are exacerbating the dire situation in refugee camps, further highlighting the urgent need for international intervention .
Military Strategy and Human Rights Concerns
The SAF has intensified its use of air strikes to target RSF-held areas. However, this reliance on aerial bombardment has raised concerns from human rights organisations, who accuse the military of indiscriminately targeting civilian locations, resulting in tragic losses like Saturday’s marketplace attack. Advocacy groups are urging the international community to hold those responsible accountable for potential war crimes, given the devastating impact on Sudan’s civilian population .
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