Sudan Military Accused of Mass Atrocities in Darfur Airstrike

A Sudanese war monitor is reporting hundreds killed in a recent airstrike by the military in Darfur, raising alarms as the humanitarian situation deepens in the region.

In a chilling development from Sudan's ongoing civil war, a war monitoring group, the Emergency Lawyers, has accused the Sudanese military of perpetrating a horrific massacre during an airstrike on the Tur'rah market in the Darfur region. The attack, which reportedly took place on Monday, has left hundreds dead and many more injured, marking what activists are calling the deadliest single bombing since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023.

Footage shared on social media, primarily from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), depicted the devastating aftermath, with market stalls reduced to smoking ruins and bodies mangled beyond recognition. Despite these allegations, a military spokesperson has maintained that the Sudanese armed forces targeted only legitimate military objectives and did not intend harm to civilians.

Both the Sudanese military and the RSF are under scrutiny for their roles in attacking civilian areas, with the RSF employing drones while the military continues to wield its warplanes for targeted strikes. The exact number of casualties and the date of the market bombardment remain unverified, but it is situated approximately 35 kilometers north of el-Fasher, a city held by the military.

Reports from the Darfur Initiative for Justice and Peace, an activist organization, indicate a significant escalation in civilian deaths due to increased bombardments as fighting intensifies in the civil war. As of now, it is estimated that around 12 million Sudanese have been displaced, comparable to the total populations of Belgium or Tunisia, showcasing the dire humanitarian crisis that has unfolded.

The situation is compounded by widespread famine, with the United Nations reporting high levels of acute food insecurity across more than half of the country. The toll of the conflict continues to escalate, with estimates suggesting the death of at least 150,000 individuals since the war's commencement.

The RSF has denied allegations of genocide, including the murder of civilian populations and systematic sexual violence towards non-Arab women branded as ethnic cleansing. With the UN declaring Sudan as the site of the world's worst humanitarian crisis, concerns grow about the safety and well-being of millions caught in the crossfire of this devastating conflict.