The brutal conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rages on, with escalating violence taking a devastating toll on civilians. Thousands have been killed and millions displaced, making it one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history. According to the United Nations, Sudan is currently facing the largest displacement crisis in the world as civilians continue to flee the fighting.
The RSF, a paramilitary group, has been increasingly targeting civilian areas, and their attacks have left many dead or injured. On Saturday evening, a rocket strike launched by RSF fighters targeted Omdurman’s Karri neighborhood, killing two civilians and injuring 11 others. The Sudan Doctors Network, which tracks civilian casualties, condemned the attack, describing it as an intentional strike against non-combatants, including women and children.
“This deliberate targeting of civilian neighborhoods, rather than military sites, continues to escalate the violence and deepen the suffering of civilians,” the network said in a statement. “This is a gross violation of international law that only increases the toll on an already devastated population.”
The RSF has been accused of not only launching these attacks but also deliberately causing harm to infrastructure, which has exacerbated the crisis in regions where civilians have sought refuge. As the violence continues, the humanitarian situation worsens, and international aid agencies struggle to provide relief.
Meanwhile, the RSF launched multiple assaults over the weekend, with two separate attacks on towns in White Nile and Al-Jazeera states. In White Nile State, the RSF attacked the village of Al-Qutaynah on Saturday, firing indiscriminately on villagers. The violence claimed the lives of at least 12 people, with dozens more injured, many critically.
According to “Nidaa Al-Wasat,” a civil society group working on the front lines to aid victims, the attack on Al-Qutaynah left the village in ruins, with survivors left to cope with severe injuries and trauma. “The indiscriminate nature of the attack is a clear indication of the RSF’s disregard for civilian life,” the group said in a statement.
RSF forces have a stronghold in the northern part of White Nile State, which borders Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, and have been increasing their presence in the region as they try to expand their control.
In Al-Jazeera State, the violence was similarly intense. The Al-Jazeera Conference, a local group monitoring the conflict, reported that RSF fighters attacked the town of Abu Ashr, killing at least six people and injuring many others. “The RSF took control of several neighborhoods in Abu Ashr, murdering six people and injuring dozens,” the group stated. “The situation is dire, with many still trapped and unable to escape.”
In addition to these assaults, the RSF carried out artillery strikes in Al-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, on Saturday. The shelling targeted civilian areas in the western part of the city, killing four people and injuring five others. Two sisters were killed in their home, and two people died while praying in a mosque. The five injured were transported to a local health center, where they are receiving treatment, according to the Darfur 24 news outlet.
These attacks are part of an ongoing effort by the RSF to capture Al-Fasher, a key city in Darfur. The RSF has been laying siege to the city since May, but Sudanese military forces, along with allied local forces, have fiercely defended it. Despite their best efforts, Al-Fasher has been increasingly vulnerable to attacks as the RSF seeks to strengthen its control over Darfur.
The situation in Al-Fasher has grown more dire, with humanitarian organizations warning that the city could soon face severe shortages of food, medicine, and basic supplies. With the escalation of violence, displaced civilians are struggling to find safe refuge amid the continued onslaught.
In a retaliatory move, the Sudanese Air Force conducted airstrikes on RSF positions in Al-Fasher on Sunday. The strikes targeted RSF fighters in the northeastern and southern parts of the city, killing at least 40 RSF fighters and destroying 10 vehicles, according to the Sudanese news outlet Al-Mashhad. The air raids are seen as part of an ongoing effort by the Sudanese Armed Forces to push back the RSF and secure key areas under siege.
As the conflict continues to escalate, the humanitarian needs in Sudan are skyrocketing. International organizations have called for greater intervention to prevent further loss of life and provide support for those who have fled the violence. The dire situation has prompted widespread concern, with calls for peace talks and negotiations to end the bloodshed.
