On Friday, pro-democracy activists in Sudan reported that around 40 civilians were killed in heavy artillery fire by paramilitary forces in Omdurman, a city adjacent to the capital, Khartoum. The shelling, which took place on Thursday, was attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The Karari Resistance Committee, one of numerous grassroots groups in Sudan advocating for democracy, released a statement on social media detailing the attack’s aftermath: “So far, the death toll is estimated at 40 civilians and there are more than 50 injured, some seriously.” The group highlighted that the RSF was responsible for the violent artillery fire.
“There is still no precise count of the number of victims in Omdurman,” the statement noted. The casualties were mostly brought to Al Nao University Hospital, with some being treated in private facilities or buried by their families, according to the committee.
This latest incident follows accusations against the RSF for killing over 104 people, including 35 children, in an attack on Wednesday on the village of Wad al-Noura in Al-Jazira state, south of Khartoum.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal conflict between the national army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Burhan’s former deputy. The war has caused significant devastation, with some estimates, including those from U.S. envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello, suggesting a death toll as high as 150,000.
The ongoing conflict has forced over seven million people to flee their homes within Sudan, compounding the displacement crisis from previous conflicts in the country of 48 million. Daily fighting persists nationwide, including in the capital, with both factions accused of severe human rights abuses such as deliberate civilian targeting, indiscriminate shelling of residential areas, and obstruction of humanitarian aid.
This relentless violence and humanitarian crisis have drawn international condemnation and calls for an urgent resolution to the conflict. However, as both sides continue to engage in hostilities, the prospects for peace remain bleak, and the toll on civilian life continues to mount.
