A Sudanese war monitor has accused the military of carrying out a devastating airstrike on a market in the western Darfur region, reportedly killing hundreds of civilians. The attack on Tur’rah market, located about 35 kilometers north of the army-controlled city of El-Fasher, has been described as one of the deadliest single bombings since the outbreak of Sudan’s civil war in April 2023.
The Emergency Lawyers group, which documents human rights violations by both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), called the airstrike a “horrific massacre.” Videos circulating on social media, including those shared by the RSF, show the market reduced to rubble, with bodies charred beyond recognition.
A military spokesperson denied targeting civilians, asserting that the attack was aimed at legitimate hostile targets. However, both the SAF and RSF have previously been accused of indiscriminately attacking civilian areas. While the RSF primarily relies on drone warfare in Darfur, the army has control over warplanes, which it frequently uses to strike RSF positions.
Conflicting reports place the death toll between 61 and 270 people. The Darfur Initiative for Justice and Peace condemned the airstrike, highlighting the escalating violence and the dire humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The United Nations also voiced deep concern over the incident, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, emphasizing the urgent need for an end to the hostilities.
The conflict between the SAF and RSF has displaced approximately 12 million people equivalent to the population of Belgium or Tunisia plunging Sudan into the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, according to the UN. Starvation is widespread, with over half the country facing severe food insecurity.
The RSF, which has been accused of genocide in Darfur, continues to deny allegations of ethnic cleansing, mass killings, and sexual violence against non-Arab communities. The war, which has claimed at least 150,000 lives, shows no signs of abating, raising fears of further atrocities and deepening human suffering.
As international outcry grows, pressure mounts on both warring factions to cease hostilities and allow humanitarian aid to reach the millions in desperate need.
