10 civilians killed in artillery shelling by RSF in Omdurman

September 28, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – At least ten civilians were killed and others injured on Thursday when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shelled a transport station in the Aljarafa area north of Omdurman. Clashes between the army and the RSF continued in the three cities of Khartoum.

In a press statement, Sudanese army spokesman Brigadier General Nabil Abdallah accused the RSF of indiscriminate bombing of the area under the army’s control, which led to the death of 10 people and the wounding of 11 others, including serious injuries.

The Aljarafa Resistance Committee said that the RSF militia bombed the northern countryside transportation station with a bulldozer, killing nine civilians, including families and children, and injuring dozens more.

The situation in Sudan is likely to escalate further as both parties to the military conflict that began in mid-April insist on continuing fighting until a sweeping military victory is achieved, ignoring regional, international, and local calls for a long-term ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to reach those affected by the fighting.

The fighting, which has entered its sixth month, has left extremely complex humanitarian conditions and displaced more than seven million people. It has also caused the collapse of the health sector, leaving most hospitals out of service, which has contributed to the spread of epidemics and diseases.

The two sides of the conflict repeatedly exchanged accusations of targeting populated areas in Khartoum and Darfur using heavy artillery, drones, and fighter jets.

Violent confrontations between the two parties continued for the twelfth consecutive day in the vicinity of the General Command of the Sudanese Army, east of Khartoum. Eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune that intense clashes with light, heavy, and medium weapons were heard east of the command, specifically in the Buri neighbourhood, accompanied by shelling and continuous artillery fire. Thick columns of smoke were seen rising around the perimeter of the battles.

During the past two weeks, the RSF has intensified its attacks on the main army camps in the capital in an attempt to control them. It has fiercely attacked the General Command, the Engineers Corps, and the Armored Corps. In return, the army is desperate to defend its bases by repelling successive waves of RSF attacks.

Army fighter jets carried out an air strike on RSF sites near the Mansheya Bridge in the eastern Nile, east of the capital, and RSF ground anti-aircraft guns responded to the air attack. Local sources reported that heavy artillery also bombed military positions belonging to the RSF in the Al-Azhari area, south of Khartoum, followed by a wave of heavy smoke clouds.

Meanwhile, violent confrontations renewed between the two sides in the vicinity of the Armored Corps in the Al-Shajara military area, where all weapons were used.

The Sudanese army spokesman accused the RSF of destroying the headquarters of the Humanitarian Aid Commission, located northwest of the General Command of the Armed Forces. He said that the RSF bombed the headquarters on Wednesday, leading to its destruction and the burning of its contents. He called this a violation of international humanitarian law and condemned the RSF’s attack.