A devastating air strike carried out by Sudan’s army on western Omdurman has resulted in the loss of at least 22 lives, with scores of people injured, according to the Khartoum state health ministry. The attack took place amidst the ongoing war between the military factions in the country, now entering its 12th week.
While the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) swiftly gained control over the capital city of Khartoum, as well as its sister cities Omdurman and Bahri, following the outbreak of fighting on April 15, the army has resorted to launching air and artillery strikes. Despite various attempts at mediation, the conflict has yet to be resolved and continues to escalate, posing the risk of plunging the country into a broader civil war. This protracted conflict threatens to draw in internal and external actors in Sudan, a nation situated between the Horn of Africa, Sahel, and Red Sea.
The roots of the conflict can be traced back to simmering tensions between the military factions over issues such as the chain of command and the integration of their forces during the country’s transition to democracy. As the fighting has persisted, it has claimed the lives of at least 1,133 individuals, as reported by the federal health ministry. The violence has not been confined to the capital and has spread to regions like Kordofan and Darfur, fueling ethnic clashes in West Darfur state.
The humanitarian impact of the conflict is dire, with over 2.9 million people displaced, including nearly 700,000 seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. More than half of the capital city has been uprooted by the unrest. Disturbingly, aid agencies have reported “alarming numbers” of sexual violence and abductions of women and girls.
Recent clashes have concentrated in Omdurman, particularly in its western region, which serves as a crucial supply route for the RSF’s reinforcements from Darfur, their stronghold. Strikes, including an overnight attack on Friday, have also targeted the country’s state broadcasting complex in eastern Omdurman. Furthermore, overnight strikes have struck southern and eastern Khartoum.
