Deadly Strikes on a Sudanese Market

Sudan's civil war has reached a new low with a recent attack on a busy marketplace in the city of Omdurman. The paramilitary group, named Rapid Support Forces, has been going head-to-head with the country’s military forces. This time, they left a trail of destruction in their wake, taking the lives of 54 people and badly hurting at least 158 more. The attack in the Sabrein Market, which is a bustling hub of commerce, was one of the worst incidents since the war started back in April 2023. The fighting has been raging across the country, and this attack is just the latest in a long line of tragedies. The market attack was condemned by Khalid al-Aleisir, the minister of culture and government spokesperson. He pointed out that the casualties included many innocent civilians, women, and children. The damage to both private and public property was extensive. He also highlighted that this attack was a violation of international law. Al-Aleisir also pointed out that the RSF have a history of violent acts and, in his statement, called them out for their brutality. The Sudan’s Doctors Syndicate also spoke out against the attack. They reported that one shell hit very close to al-Naw hospital, which had to treat most of the victims. The hospital staff were overwhelmed by the number of casualties and many of them were women and children. The hospital is already struggling with a shortage of medical teams, especially surgeons and nurses. The war in Sudan began in April 2023 when tensions between the military and the RSF boiled over into full-scale fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and other cities. This is the result of a conflict that started because of the tension between the two leaders of the military and the RSF. The war has killed more than 28, 000 people, forced millions to flee their homes and has left families in desperate situations. Some families have even resorted to eating grass to survive as famine sweeps through parts of the country. The conflict has been marked by terrible atrocities like ethically motivated killings and rape, according to the United Nations and rights groups. The International Criminal Court is investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Biden administration has accused the RSF and its allies of committing genocide in the war. The RSF has been suffering setbacks in recent months, giving the military the upper hand in the conflict. They have lost control of many areas in Khartoum, the capital, its sister city of Omdurman, and the eastern and central provinces. The military has also regained control of the city of Wad Medani and the country’s largest oil refinery.