In a troubling escalation of violence, a Sudanese military aircraft bombarded the Sheikh Ahmed Al-Siddiq Mosque in Bahri City, Northern Khartoum, resulting in the death of at least seven civilians. The attack occurred shortly after Friday prayers, injuring several worshippers in what has been described by the Sudan Emergency Lawyers as an “indiscriminate” assault. The minaret of the mosque was also destroyed during the incident, highlighting the intensity of the military action.
The consequences of this attack extend beyond immediate loss of life and property. According to initial witnesses and documentation from the Sudan Emergency Lawyers, the assault was executed by a Sudan military aircraft. This latest atrocity follows another recent bombardment in the Umm Qarin village that led to the deaths of eight civilians, including two children, alongside significant property damage. Both attacks are indicative of a worrying trend of humanitarian law violations in Sudan. For more details, the report can be found here.
The Sudan Emergency Lawyers have condemned these aggressive actions, accusing the parties involved in the ongoing civil conflict of targeting civilians in violation of the principle of distinction under international humanitarian law. Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions and Article 13(1) of the Second Additional Protocol are specifically designed to protect civilians from military operations. The critics further argue that such actions are a breach of international standards, notably infringing upon the principles of proportionality and distinction outlined in the First Additional Protocol.
Furthermore, the attacks are thought to potentially constitute war crimes, being defined as grave breaches under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. In light of this, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights had previously identified Sudan as breaching international humanitarian law standards and urged the involved parties – the RSF and Sudan Armed Forces – to avoid targeting civilians and to engage in negotiations to establish a lasting ceasefire.