Diksia.com - Two of the country’s main armed groups, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have been in a power struggle since yesterday April 2023.
At least 22 people were killed in the latest development, an airstrike on Sudan’s second largest city, Omdurman, according to health officials.
The incident happened on Saturday (07.08.2023) in the Omdurman residential area, near the capital Khartoum.
RSF said 31 civilians were killed in the attack.
The paramilitaries blamed the Sudanese army for the attack on the Omduran residential area.
“RSF strongly condemns the air strikes by the extremist terrorist militia led by [Army Chief Abdel Fattah] al-Burhan,” the group said in a statement.
“This heinous attack, staged by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) with the support of remnants of the previous regime, has resulted in the tragic loss of more than 31 lives and many injured civilians,” he added.
A military spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.
Al Jazeera quoted the United Nations (UN) as responding quickly to the aggression.
According to a statement by his spokesman on Sunday morning (September 7th, 2023), UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack.
Gutteres called on the Sudanese army and RSF to cease hostilities.
“The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned that the ongoing war between the armed forces has brought Sudan to the brink of full-scale civil war and potentially destabilizing the entire region,” the statement said.
Two Omdurman residents said it was difficult to determine which party was responsible for the attack.
They say army planes have repeatedly attacked RSF troops in the area and paramilitary forces have used drones and anti-aircraft guns against the military.
Fighting has been concentrated in Omdurman in recent days as the western part of the city is an important supply route for the RSF to bring in reinforcements from their stronghold, Darfur.
