At least 40 people in Sudan have been killed in a drone strike that targeted a funeral that was taking place outside the army-held city of el-Obeid in North Kordofan state, officials and activists say. They blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for Monday's attack on al-Luweib village as mourners had gathered in a tent. The RSF has not yet commented. Many reportedly died before getting to hospital in el-Obeid, a strategic city that connects the capital, Khartoum, to the western region of Darfur.
Fighting has intensified in this oil-rich Kordofan area and around 20,000 people fled to el-Obeid last week after the RSF captured Bara town, located 30km (18 miles) north of the city. The town fell at the same time as the city of el-Fasher, which had been the army's last stronghold in Darfur. Reports have emerged of mass killings, sexual violence, abductions, and widespread looting in el-Fasher by RSF fighters. The UN has indicated that summary executions of civilians by RSF fighters have also been reported in Bara.
Such atrocities could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has warned. The RSF leader has promised to investigate violations but his paramilitary group has denied widespread allegations that the killings in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated.
The ICC's statement came amid worsening conditions for el-Fasher residents suffering from famine, exacerbated by the RSF's 18-month siege of the city. The UN-accredited Integrated Food Security Phase network (IPC) confirmed that el-Fasher and Kadugli in South Kordofan state are experiencing severe hunger issues.
UN chief António Guterres has called for an immediate halt to violence in Sudan, stating that the humanitarian crisis is spiraling out of control. He urged the army and RSF to negotiate an end to the violence, as a Sudanese government source indicated the authorities are considering a US proposal for a truce. Efforts for a ceasefire have been ongoing, with various international parties pushing for peace talks, although no agreements have been reached yet.
Mohamed Ismail, North Kordofan's humanitarian aid commissioner, confirmed the drone attack's fatal impact, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian support for those displaced and affected by escalating conflict since the civil war erupted between the army and RSF in April 2023.
Fighting has intensified in this oil-rich Kordofan area and around 20,000 people fled to el-Obeid last week after the RSF captured Bara town, located 30km (18 miles) north of the city. The town fell at the same time as the city of el-Fasher, which had been the army's last stronghold in Darfur. Reports have emerged of mass killings, sexual violence, abductions, and widespread looting in el-Fasher by RSF fighters. The UN has indicated that summary executions of civilians by RSF fighters have also been reported in Bara.
Such atrocities could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has warned. The RSF leader has promised to investigate violations but his paramilitary group has denied widespread allegations that the killings in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated.
The ICC's statement came amid worsening conditions for el-Fasher residents suffering from famine, exacerbated by the RSF's 18-month siege of the city. The UN-accredited Integrated Food Security Phase network (IPC) confirmed that el-Fasher and Kadugli in South Kordofan state are experiencing severe hunger issues.
UN chief António Guterres has called for an immediate halt to violence in Sudan, stating that the humanitarian crisis is spiraling out of control. He urged the army and RSF to negotiate an end to the violence, as a Sudanese government source indicated the authorities are considering a US proposal for a truce. Efforts for a ceasefire have been ongoing, with various international parties pushing for peace talks, although no agreements have been reached yet.
Mohamed Ismail, North Kordofan's humanitarian aid commissioner, confirmed the drone attack's fatal impact, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian support for those displaced and affected by escalating conflict since the civil war erupted between the army and RSF in April 2023.
