KHARTOUM: The capital city of Sudan was engulfed in heavy fighting on Tuesday, with reports of a fighter jet being shot down and intense artillery and machine gun fire rocking multiple neighborhoods. Witnesses described seeing pilots parachuting from the plane as it crashed to the ground, adding to the chaos and fear in northern Khartoum.
According to a source from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), they were responsible for shooting down the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) jet. The RSF announced that they had apprehended the pilot after his parachute landing, while also accusing the SAF of committing “heinous massacres” in greater Khartoum.
The armed forces, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, have been engaged in a brutal conflict with the RSF, formerly led by al-Burhan’s deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, since April 15. The ongoing clashes have resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people and the displacement of millions.
Reports from witnesses in Omdurman, located across the river from Khartoum’s city center, confirmed “heavy clashes using various types of weapons.” In another area, witnesses observed airstrikes near the state television building, which had been targeted by the RSF earlier in the week. Clashes with machine guns were also reported in the eastern part of the capital.
Limited Access to Healthcare Facilities in Sudan
The army launched rockets and heavy artillery attacks on RSF bases in central and northern Khartoum, causing damage to houses and leading to an influx of wounded civilians at one of the few functioning hospitals. Medical professionals warn that the actual death toll and number of casualties are likely higher than official figures due to limited access to healthcare facilities, with two-thirds of them currently out of service.
The violence in Sudan’s war-torn regions, including Khartoum and Darfur in the west, has primarily affected densely-populated neighborhoods, with airstrikes targeting residential areas and leaving bodies strewn in the streets. Civilians have endured prolonged suffering, facing severe shortages of water, food, electricity, and medicine for nearly three months, as moments of respite remain fleeting.
The International Organization for Migration estimates that around 2.2 million Sudanese people have been internally displaced, while approximately 645,000 have sought refuge across borders. The dire situation calls for urgent humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of the affected population.
