Darfur air strike kills over 100 in Sudan’s escalating conflict: pro-democracy group
The attack is the latest in a series of escalating violence in Sudan’s 20-month war, with both sides accused of targeting civilians
A Sudanese military air strike on a market in North Darfur killed more than 100 people on Monday, a pro-democracy lawyers’ group said on Tuesday, in a war marked by claims of atrocities on all sides.
The Emergency Lawyers said Monday’s air strike also left hundreds injured in Kabkabiya, a town about 180 kilometres (112 miles) west of El-Fasher, the state capital that has been under siege from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since May.
Tens of thousands have been killed and millions displaced in a 20-month war between the RSF and Sudan’s army that has left the northeast African country on the brink of famine, according to aid agencies.
“The air strike took place on the town’s weekly market day, where residents from various nearby villages had gathered to shop, resulting in the death of more than 100 people and injury of hundreds, including women and children,” said the lawyers group, which has been documenting human rights abuses during the conflict.
They described it as a “horrendous massacre committed by army air strikes”, though the military denied it had carried out the attack.
The army said in a statement the accusations were “lies” spread by political parties backing the RSF, adding that it would continue “exercising its legitimate right to defend the country”.
In footage purporting to show the aftermath of Monday’s strike, people were seen sifting through rubble as the charred remains of children lay on scorched ground.
