Air Strike in Darfur Market Allegedly Kills Over 100, Described as “Horrific Massacre”

Allegations have been made against Sudan’s military for conducting an aerial attack on a market area in Darfur’s western region, reportedly resulting in the deaths of over 100 individuals. The human rights organization Emergency Lawyers characterized the aerial bombardment in Kabkabiya town on Monday, which was the regular market day, as a “horrific massacre”. In recent weeks, confrontations have escalated across various areas of Sudan between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), its erstwhile ally. Both factions refute accusations of committing war crimes throughout their 19-month struggle for power, a conflict that has led to the globe’s most extensive humanitarian crisis and displaced over 11 million people from their residences. Emergency Lawyers stated that the aerial assault occurred while inhabitants from neighboring villages were present for shopping in Kabkabiya, situated approximately 180km (112 miles) west of el-Fasher, the sole city in Darfur remaining under military authority and which has faced a siege since April. Emergency Lawyers declared, “This attack on civilians on market day is a flagrant violation of international law,” further noting that the air strike also left hundreds of individuals wounded. Furthermore, the organization has denounced the RSF for its indiscriminate bombardment of Omdurman, a city located directly across the River Nile from the capital, Khartoum. Emergency Lawyers reported that 14 individuals perished after a shell struck a bus on Tuesday. The group also criticized the RSF for utilizing civilian facilities, including fuel stations, for military operations. An aerial attack on Sunday struck a petrol station within an RSF-controlled sector of Khartoum, resulting in the deaths of at least 28 individuals. The South Belt Emergency Response Room, a volunteer organization, reported that 37 people sustained injuries as well. While possessing fighter jets, the army has denied intentionally targeting non-combatants. A military spokesperson stated on Tuesday that their aerial assaults constituted a legitimate operation to protect the nation, and affirmed the army’s commitment to persist in striking RSF locations, which it asserts are frequently concealed within residential zones. The advocacy organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the United Nations and the African Union to promptly dispatch forces to Sudan for civilian protection. Its most recent report on atrocities in Sudan alleges that the RSF and associated Arab militias were responsible for killing numerous civilians – and injuring, raping and abducting many more – during successive attacks in South Kordofan state between December 2023 and March 2024. This human rights organization has previously recorded comparable abuses, which it considers part of an ethnic cleansing campaign in West Darfur. HRW researcher Jean-Baptiste Gallopin commented, “The Rapid Support Forces’ abuse of civilians in South Kordofan is emblematic of continuing atrocities across Sudan.” He added, “These new findings underscore the urgent need for the deployment of a mission to protect civilians in Sudan.” In May, Tom Perriello, the US special envoy for Sudan, indicated that certain estimations proposed that as many as 150,000 individuals had lost their lives in the ongoing conflict.