Recent air strikes in the Quoro market area of Khartoum, Sudan have reportedly claimed the lives of at least 40 civilians and left more than 50 injured. Reportedly, this incident has resulted in the highest death toll since the initiation of the ongoing crisis in the country. The incident was reported by the Resistance Committee, a local activist group. The group has been relentlessly providing much-needed humanitarian aid to the victims of violence in the war-ridden regions of Sudan. This grim information was reported by JURIST – News.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have insinuated that the Sudanese military was behind the deadly strikes. However, the Sudanese military has categorically denied the allegation. This incident is a part of the ongoing fierce conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF since April 2023 – a conflict deeply rooted in the ousting of the dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
The Transitional Sovereignty Council, constructed for transitioning to a civilian-led government, holds both RSF and the military’s leaders as its chairperson and deputy chairperson. Alas, the effort for a peaceful transition has been facing continuous setbacks due to the RSF’s accused unlawful gatherings and displays of force.
With each event escalating the tension in the region, there have been attacks on both sides on government-controlled sectors. The RSF alleges that the military attacked first which resulted in reciprocal offensives.
According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, this war has resulted in over 7500 casualties in the span of only four months. The crisis has also displaced over a million refugees. What’s more alarming is that Sudan itself is host to about 800,000 South Sudanese refugees, many of whom are resorting to return to the war-torn country.
The tension has further escalated inter-ethnic conflict in South Darfur. With no immediate resolution in sight, the situation remains deeply concerning as these incidents place innocent lives at constant risk.