A recent air strike on a bustling market in Darfur has sparked widespread horror, with reports suggesting over 100 civilians lost their lives. The attack took place on a day when residents from nearby villages gathered to buy and sell goods in Kabkabiya, a town west of el-Fasher. Activists and legal observers have condemned the bombing as a gross violation of international law, calling it a “horrific massacre.”
Sudan’s military denies targeting civilians, insisting its operations are aimed at legitimate enemy positions. However, the strike highlights the country’s deepening conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Both sides stand accused of abuses, and civilians are caught in the crossfire. Families are fleeing in record numbers, adding to a humanitarian crisis of immense scale.
Activists and legal groups also condemn the RSF’s actions, such as indiscriminate shelling of Omdurman and using civilian infrastructure for military purposes. Recent airstrikes on fuel stations have left scores dead, further darkening a grim landscape of violence and fear.
International groups are demanding urgent measures to safeguard civilians. Calls have grown for the deployment of a peacekeeping mission, as researchers document a disturbing pattern of ethnic cleansing, abductions, and other grave abuses. With reports estimating staggering casualties, the world’s attention now rests on Sudan’s leadership and its willingness to halt the slide into ever-deeper tragedy.