Sudanese Army Commits Massacre by Bombing Popular Market, Killing Dozens of Civilians
An international organization announced, Saturday, that deaths and injuries have occurred, along with the displacement of 1,500 families in the city of Al-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state in western Sudan, due to ongoing clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF confirmed that Sudanese armed forces’ aircraft bombed a popular market west of Omdurman city, killing dozens of civilians, including children. They described the raid as a “massacre” and called on the international community to act to stop such crimes.
In a post on the platform “X” on Saturday, the RSF stated: “Continuing its series of heinous crimes against innocent and defenseless civilians, the aviation of al-Burhan‘s militia and remnants of the defunct regime targeted today the famous Kandahar market west of Omdurman city, executing a tragic massacre that claimed the lives of dozens of civilians, including children who were working to earn their daily living in the market known for its food services and frequented by citizens and families from various cities of the capital, Khartoum.” They condemned these “inhuman acts against innocent civilians.”
They called on the international community and humanitarian actors to intervene to put an end to the crimes of military aviation and to condemn the barbaric behavior and orders from the leaders of the ruling gang in Sudan, who continue to bomb populated areas since they started the war on April 15 of last year.
They affirmed their support for the Sudanese people in confronting these brutal acts and pursuing the criminals until the last bastion of terrorism in our country is destroyed and Sudan is rebuilt on new foundations of justice and democracy.
The International Organization for Migration stated in a communiqué: “We have received preliminary information indicating that 1,500 families in Al-Fasher fled their homes today, Saturday. The displacement occurred from the Abu Shouk camp for displaced persons and the neighborhoods of Al-Salam, Al-Wehda, and Al-Inqadh. Reports also indicate deaths and injuries (numbers not specified) among civilians.”
-
“Fanning the Conflict in Darfur: The Role of the Sudanese Army and Its Complicity with Moussa Hilal”
The communiqué added that “the clashes over the past two days near the Abu Shouk camp and the Al-Salam neighborhood in northern Al-Fasher have led to the displacement of 400 families to other sites within the city.” It also reported that “7 homes were burned, and 15 homes were partially damaged due to the clashes.”
Since May 10, the city has witnessed clashes between the army, supported by armed movements that signed the peace agreement, and the RSF, despite international warnings about the battles in Al-Fasher, which is the center of humanitarian operations for all Darfur states.
The governor of the Darfur region, Minni Arko Minnawi, accused the RSF on Saturday of “committing ethnic cleansing through indiscriminate bombing of homes and hospitals to displace people outside the city.”
The RSF refuted Minnawi’s accusations, stating that they “will not deceive the Sudanese, especially the people of Darfur, who have permanently rejected the treacherous and mercenary movements.”
They stated in a post on “X”: “The so-called Minni Arko Minnawi continues to shed crocodile tears and shamelessly makes baseless accusations against the RSF after losing all arguments and failing to meet the expectations of his masters from the gang of killers and terrorists.”
In addition to being the capital of North Darfur state, Al-Fasher is the center of the Darfur region, comprising five states, the largest of its cities, and the only one among the capitals of the other states in the region that has not fallen to the RSF in their armed conflict with the army.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the General Coordination of Displaced Persons and Refugee Camps (a local NGO), Adam Rahal, stated in a communiqué: “Violence has intensified in Al-Fasher, particularly in the Abu Shouk camp, which houses about 250,000 people, most of whom have had to leave the camp due to deliberate and indiscriminate shelling that has killed and injured hundreds of them.”
He pointed out that “checkpoints impose alarming restrictions and searches, asking questions about the skin color and tribe of citizens leaving the city for other areas.”
For several days, the RSF has expressed its readiness to provide safe corridors to ensure the exit of residents wishing to leave the city and has urged them to avoid areas where clashes are taking place with the Sudanese army.
On Thursday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, stated that reports coming from Al-Fasher were “horrifying.”
Grandi added: “Deadly attacks on civilians in Al-Fasher and terrifying accounts of targeting civilians. People are so afraid of checkpoints that they do not even dare to flee.”
Calls from the United Nations and the international community have increased to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in the country, which could push millions of people into famine and death due to the lack of food caused by the fighting that has spread to 12 of the country’s 18 states.
Since mid-April 2023, the army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemeti” have been waging a war that has resulted in about 15,000 deaths and more than 8 million displaced and refugees, according to the United Nations.
