WAD MADANI: The ongoing conflict in Sudan’s Khartoum region took a devastating turn on Saturday, with at least 15 civilians killed when shells struck their homes, according to a medical source. Meanwhile, paramilitary fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed significant gains in Darfur, intensifying fears of fresh displacement in the war-torn region.
The victims’ bodies were taken to Al-Nau hospital in Omdurman, part of greater Khartoum, highlighting the grim toll of the struggle between Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who leads the RSF. The conflict, which has persisted since April, has led to the death of over 10,400 people and forced more than 6 million to flee, both within and outside Sudan.
In Darfur, the RSF declared the capture of an army base in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state. This advance raised concerns due to a communication blackout, recalling past massacres, sexual violence, and mass graves. Reports of civilians being caught in the fighting have drawn international condemnation, triggering a fresh investigation by the International Criminal Court into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Escalating Tensions in Sudan
The RSF’s territorial gains in Darfur have escalated fears of an impending large-scale attack in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state. The situation in Darfur remains critical, with humanitarians dubbing it one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history.
While both sides have positioned themselves as peacemakers in the negotiations, previous truces have been promptly violated, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The RSF, led by Daglo, has asserted its readiness for peace but remains resolute against a ceasefire that allows the army to regroup, setting the stage for a precarious future for Sudanese civilians trapped in the crossfire.
