At least 47 people, including a significant number of children, have been killed in an attack in the city of Kilugi, South Kordofan. The attack was allegedly carried out by a Rapid Support Forces (RSF) drone, according to Sudanese security sources.
The Sudanese Army stated that the drone targeted a civilian populated area on Thursday morning, resulting in numerous casualties and injuries.
Furthermore, the army reported that its forces had thwarted an RSF attack on the city of Babanusa, located in West Kordofan. They added that the RSF has continued to target Babanusa with drones, despite announcing a ceasefire that they claim misled regional and international public opinion.
The Sudanese Army has characterized the RSF’s declared ceasefire as a political maneuver intended to conceal field operations and the influx of external support. They emphasized that they will not allow the humanitarian situation to be exploited as a cover for military movements that would further exacerbate the crisis.
In a related development, a Sudanese security source reported that the army shelled RSF positions in the city of Nyala, South Darfur. The shelling reportedly struck an ammunition depot and other RSF bases in Nyala.
Nyala has been under RSF control since late October 2023. The RSF and allied political factions have designated it as an alternative capital to Khartoum.
A New Wave of Atrocities?
Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has warned that Sudan faces an imminent risk of another wave of atrocities due to renewed fighting between the army and the RSF in various states of the Kordofan region.
Türk stated that his office has documented the deaths of at least 269 civilians in North Kordofan as a result of raids, shelling, and executions carried out by the RSF. He also noted reports of killings, abductions, sexual violence, and the forced recruitment of children allegedly committed by the RSF.
The UN High Commissioner reiterated his call for all states with influence over the parties to the conflict in Sudan to take immediate action to stop the fighting and provide safe passage for those fleeing famine and death. The situation remains dire, with civilians bearing the brunt of the ongoing conflict.
