The Sudanese army is facing accusations of being responsible for a series of devastating drone strikes that have resulted in the deaths of over 200 people. In a tragic turn of events, mourners on their way to a funeral and those present at a market in West Kordofan state were among the casualties.
According to reports from the Sudan War Observatory, the death toll on Sunday evening from strikes in two areas of West Kordofan state was 150. However, the Observatory has also detailed another attack in the town of Al-Mujlad, located within the same state, stating that army drones targeted a market there. The exact number of deaths and injuries from this strike remains unknown.
The Sudanese army has not yet issued a response to these allegations. However, they have previously claimed they do not attack civilians, even in situations where they suspect the presence of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters among the population.
Tragic accounts continue to pour in from Abyei, a disputed territory between Sudan and South Sudan, where a drone strike hit a bustling market, resulting in at least 153 casualties and a subsequent blaze at a nearby fuel depot. Local authorities have placed the blame firmly on the Sudanese military for this deadly incident, which also left numerous people injured.
Following Monday’s attack, the Foreign Ministry of South Sudan laid the blame on Sudan’s military, expressing that the attack caused civilian casualties and significant property damage across various points within the market. The ministry revealed that it summoned Sudan’s ambassador to express its outrage, urging Sudan to ensure that civilian lives and property are not endangered. It emphasized that issues concerning Abyei should be addressed through diplomatic channels.
The exact details of these heinous acts and the party responsible for them remain unclear, with different sources providing varying death tolls. However, the consensus is that this is a significant rise in violence and loss of civilian life, marking a severe escalation in the ongoing conflict that has gripped the region since 2023.
The image accompanying this article is an AI-generated illustrative depiction inspired by the actual scene of the event.
