In a grim turn of events, an air raid on Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region claimed the lives of at least 40 civilians on Wednesday, according to reports from a medical source. This tragedy unfolds as the head of the United Nations mission to Sudan, Volker Perthes, resigned, highlighting the escalating risks of Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
Volker Perthes, who had been deemed “persona non grata” by Sudanese authorities since June, delivered a dire warning to the United Nations Security Council in his final briefing before stepping down. He emphasised the increasing danger of Sudan’s war spiralling further out of control.
The devastating air strike that resulted in the loss of civilian lives struck two markets and several neighbourhoods in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, as reported by an anonymous medical source citing security concerns.
Since April 15, clashes have erupted between the regular Sudanese army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by Burhan’s former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. Conservative estimates from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project indicate that nearly 7,500 people have lost their lives in the conflict, while more than five million individuals have been displaced, with one million fleeing across borders, according to UN figures.
Witnesses in Nyala had previously reported air strikes on two markets and civilian casualties earlier in the day, marking a dire situation in Sudan’s second-largest city. The Darfur region, which is roughly the size of France and home to a significant portion of Sudan’s population, had already experienced severe unrest prior to a recent surge in violence.
Throughout August, over 50,000 people fled the city of Nyala, leaving it in turmoil. In early September, the remaining population witnessed a new escalation in violence, with air force fighter jets, typically limited to strikes in the capital Khartoum, now soaring overhead. These airstrikes targeted RSF bases and the residential neighbourhoods where RSF forces had embedded themselves, leading to civilian casualties, according to witnesses.
The Sudanese army’s actions, including indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas, have raised concerns about potential violations of the Geneva Conventions. The Sudan Conflict Observatory, supported by the United States, has pointed out that regardless of whether a target is considered a legitimate military objective, the Sudanese Armed Forces must minimise harm to civilians.
This devastating air raid came just a day after reports of 17 civilians killed in Omdurman, Khartoum’s sister city. Witnesses described that attack as RSF shelling. On another tragic note, Sunday witnessed air strikes in southern Khartoum that claimed the lives of at least 51 people and left dozens wounded, marking what UN human rights chief Volker Turk called “the deadliest weekend witnessed by our teams in Khartoum since the beginning of the conflict, five months ago.”
Amidst the ongoing conflict in Sudan, diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire have repeatedly failed, with such negotiations often being used by both parties for repositioning and resupply, as stated by Volker Perthes in his address to the Security Council. Perthes, who had faced accusations of bias towards the RSF and had been declared persona non grata, has now resigned from his position. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres accepted his resignation, citing “very strong reasons.”
Perthes, in his parting words, warned that the conflict could escalate into a full-scale civil war and emphasised that accountability for the crimes committed must be ensured.
As deadly air strikes continue to ravage Darfur, columns of smoke have been reported rising in central Khartoum, where armed forces fighter jets are said to be targeting RSF bases. The situation remains volatile and dire in Sudan, with civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict’s devastating consequences.
