Sudanese Air Strikes Claim 23 Lives in Khartoum, Over 40 Injured

Sudanese army air strikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 23 individuals and left more than 40 others injured in southern Khartoum. The airstrikes occurred on Saturday, targeting the primary camp occupied by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The attacks struck both the central market and a nearby residential area, affecting traders, shoppers, and local residents.

The ongoing conflict between the RSF and the military has led to a devastating civil war that has lasted 18 months, claiming up to 150,000 lives and displacing approximately one-fifth of Sudan’s population, according to United Nations estimates.

A spokesman from the Nobel Prize-nominated rescue network, Emergency Response Rooms, reported that the wounded are currently receiving treatment in local hospitals, which are overwhelmed by the influx of injured individuals.

Since Friday, fighting in and around Khartoum has intensified, particularly in areas largely controlled by the RSF. The military has ramped up its airstrikes in the city’s central and southern regions, while witnesses indicate that army forces are advancing from nearby Omdurman, where clashes erupted on Saturday.

Earlier this week, the Sudanese government provided the UN Security Council with what it claims is new evidence of support from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the RSF. The government has called for action against the Gulf state, which has consistently denied any involvement.

Both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces have faced accusations of committing atrocities during the conflict. The UN warned last month that “relentless hostilities across the country have brought misery to millions of civilians, triggering the world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis.” The organization further stated that Sudan is now facing “the world’s largest hunger crisis.”