Sudanese army air strikes have resulted in at least 23 fatalities and over 40 injuries in southern Khartoum, targeting a bustling market and a nearby residential area. The attacks occurred on Saturday as the military aimed at a main camp occupied by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Among the victims are traders, shoppers, and local residents who were caught in the crossfire. The wounded are being treated in overwhelmed hospitals, according to a spokesperson from the Nobel Prize-nominated rescue network, Emergency Response Rooms.
Fierce fighting has escalated around Khartoum since Friday, where the RSF maintains significant control. The military has intensified airstrikes in the city’s center and southern belt, with reports of army advances from Omdurman, where clashes erupted on Saturday.
Earlier in the week, the Sudanese government presented what it termed new evidence to the UN Security Council, alleging that the United Arab Emirates is providing arms and support to the RSF, a claim the UAE has long denied. Both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces face accusations of committing atrocities during the prolonged conflict.
The UN has warned that relentless hostilities across the nation have caused immense suffering for millions, creating the world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis and contributing to what is now described as the largest hunger crisis globally.