A Sudanese war monitor has accused on March 25 the country’s military of carrying out a devastating airstrike on Tur’rah market in the western Darfur region, which reportedly killed hundreds of people.
The Emergency Lawyers group, which documents abuses by both the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the outbreak of civil war in April 2023, described the attack as a “horrific massacre” that also left hundreds more injured. Graphic videos shared on social media, including some from the RSF, showed the aftermath of the bombing, with charred bodies and destroyed market stalls.
While the Sudanese military denied targeting civilians, stating they only attacked “legitimate hostile targets,” both the armed forces and the RSF have been accused of indiscriminately shelling civilian areas throughout the conflict. The RSF, a paramilitary group that controls much of Darfur, has also used drones in the region, while the army relies on warplanes for its strikes against RSF positions. The conflict has seen a significant escalation, with civilian casualties mounting, especially in recent months.
Since the war began, over 12 million Sudanese people have fled their homes, creating one of the world’s largest displacement crises. With famine and widespread starvation, over half of the country is facing acute food insecurity. The United Nations has warned that Sudan is experiencing its worst humanitarian crisis, with civilian deaths estimated at over 150,000. Despite allegations of genocide and ethnic cleansing by the RSF, including the murder and rape of non-Arab women, the group continues to deny these accusations, and the international community struggles to respond to the ongoing devastation.