At least 40 people in Sudan have been killed in a drone strike that targeted a funeral taking place outside the army-held city of el-Obeid in North Kordofan state, as confirmed by officials and activists. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been blamed for the attack, which occurred as mourners gathered in a tent in al-Luweib village. Many reportedly succumbed to their injuries before reaching a nearby hospital in el-Obeid, a strategic city connecting Khartoum to Darfur.
Intensified fighting in this oil-rich Kordofan region has caused mass displacement, with around 20,000 residents fleeing to el-Obeid following the RSF's capture of Bara town located 30 kilometers north of the city.
The town's fall coincided with the army losing its last stronghold in Darfur, prompting reports of mass killings, sexual violence, abductions, and widespread looting perpetrated by RSF fighters. The United Nations has received numerous accounts of summary executions of civilians during the clashes in the area.
The RSF leader has vowed to investigate alleged violations, although the group denies claims that the killings are ethnically motivated against non-Arab populations. Recent statements from the International Criminal Court (ICC) warn that such actions might constitute war crimes.
With scenes of ongoing devastation and famine affecting residents, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged for an immediate end to violence as the humanitarian situation deteriorates rapidly. He emphasized the worsening crisis and called for negotiations to stop the violence.
As attempts for a ceasefire continue, with U.S. proposals being considered, the North Kordofan Resistance Committee described Monday's drone strike, asserting that RSF drones targeted funeral attendees, resulting in fatalities and numerous injuries.
The civil conflict that began in April 2023 has led to over 150,000 deaths, with approximately 12 million people displaced, marking it as one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.
Intensified fighting in this oil-rich Kordofan region has caused mass displacement, with around 20,000 residents fleeing to el-Obeid following the RSF's capture of Bara town located 30 kilometers north of the city.
The town's fall coincided with the army losing its last stronghold in Darfur, prompting reports of mass killings, sexual violence, abductions, and widespread looting perpetrated by RSF fighters. The United Nations has received numerous accounts of summary executions of civilians during the clashes in the area.
The RSF leader has vowed to investigate alleged violations, although the group denies claims that the killings are ethnically motivated against non-Arab populations. Recent statements from the International Criminal Court (ICC) warn that such actions might constitute war crimes.
With scenes of ongoing devastation and famine affecting residents, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged for an immediate end to violence as the humanitarian situation deteriorates rapidly. He emphasized the worsening crisis and called for negotiations to stop the violence.
As attempts for a ceasefire continue, with U.S. proposals being considered, the North Kordofan Resistance Committee described Monday's drone strike, asserting that RSF drones targeted funeral attendees, resulting in fatalities and numerous injuries.
The civil conflict that began in April 2023 has led to over 150,000 deaths, with approximately 12 million people displaced, marking it as one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.
