An airstrike on a crowded market in Sudan has left at least 21 people dead and dozens more injured, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the country’s ongoing civil war. The attack occurred in the war-torn region of Omdurman, a city just northwest of the capital Khartoum, where heavy fighting has been ongoing between rival military factions since April 2023.
The civil conflict, which has plunged Sudan into chaos, has seen both sides engage in brutal tactics, often leading to high civilian casualties. The recent market strike is yet another grim reminder of the toll that the conflict is taking on the population, as fighting intensifies across the country.
Details of the Attack
The airstrike hit the bustling Souq Libya market in Omdurman, a commercial hub known for its shops and traders. Witnesses described scenes of devastation, with shops reduced to rubble and injured civilians crying out for help. Medical teams, already overwhelmed by months of fighting, struggled to cope with the influx of wounded.
Local health officials reported that the number of casualties could rise, as many of the injured were in critical condition. In addition to the loss of life, the attack has left significant damage to the infrastructure of the market, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the area.
“We heard the sound of planes, and suddenly, everything exploded around us,” said a market trader who survived the attack. “People were running everywhere, trying to escape the fire and destruction.”
Civil War Background
Sudan’s civil war erupted in April 2023, following a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti. The conflict escalated after a breakdown in negotiations regarding the country’s transition to civilian rule, which had been promised following the ousting of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
The violence has largely centered around Khartoum, Omdurman, and Darfur, with both factions vying for control of key infrastructure, resources, and territory. The fighting has displaced millions, killed thousands, and left much of the country without access to food, water, and medical supplies. Basic services, including electricity and sanitation, have collapsed in many areas, pushing the country to the brink of a humanitarian disaster.
Civilian Casualties and Humanitarian Crisis
Since the outbreak of the civil war, civilians have borne the brunt of the violence, with airstrikes, artillery fire, and ground clashes often occurring in residential areas. According to humanitarian organizations, more than 7,000 civilians have been killed since the conflict began, though the true number may be much higher due to underreporting in remote areas.
The situation is particularly dire for Sudan’s most vulnerable populations. Hospitals have been destroyed or rendered inoperable, and access to essential services has been severely limited. The United Nations and other aid groups have repeatedly called for ceasefires to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid, but temporary truces have often been violated within hours.
“We are seeing widespread suffering as the conflict drags on,” said a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). “Millions of people are now displaced, and the lack of medical care, food, and clean water is driving the country into a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe.”
Calls for Accountability and International Response
The international community has condemned the escalating violence in Sudan, calling on both the SAF and RSF to halt attacks on civilian areas. Several countries and organizations, including the United Nations, the African Union, and the European Union, have expressed outrage over the market strike and other attacks on civilians.
“The deliberate targeting of civilians is a violation of international humanitarian law and must stop immediately,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres in a statement. “We call on all parties to the conflict to respect human rights and to engage in meaningful dialogue to bring an end to this senseless violence.”
Despite international pressure, peace talks have repeatedly stalled, with both the SAF and RSF blaming each other for the collapse of negotiations. The African Union has been mediating efforts to broker a ceasefire, but progress has been slow amid continued fighting.
Hope for Peace?
As the war in Sudan rages on, the prospect of a peaceful resolution seems distant. Both factions remain entrenched in their positions, and neither has shown a willingness to compromise on key issues of power-sharing and governance. Meanwhile, the civilian population continues to suffer, with no end in sight to the violence.
International observers fear that the conflict could destabilize the broader region, further complicating efforts to resolve the crisis. Neighboring countries, such as Chad and South Sudan, are already grappling with the fallout from the war, including a surge of refugees and the risk of cross-border violence.
While peace remains elusive, many in Sudan and beyond are hoping for renewed diplomatic efforts to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table. Until then, civilians remain trapped in the middle of a brutal war that shows no signs of abating.