20 Sudanese civilians killed amid clashes between army, paramilitary Rapid Support Forces

By Adel Abdelraheem

KHARTOUM (AA) - At least 20 civilians were killed in the city of Sennar and in Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur State, in clashes between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Sudanese army aircraft bombed the Khamsa Dagaig camp in Zalingei, killing five people and injuring three others on Saturday evening, General Coordination of Camps for the Displaced and Refugees, a civil organization, said in a statement Sunday.

In the southern part of the country, the Sudanese Doctors Network, a non-governmental organization, stated in a report that some 15 people were killed and several others injured due to RSF artillery shelling on the city of Sennar on Saturday.

"The random shelling caused a humanitarian catastrophe by targeting a camp for displaced persons, who were then transferred to the city’s teaching hospital for treatment,” added the statement.

Coordination of Resistance Committees in the city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, said in a statement that the RSF continued shelling the Abu Shouk camp for displaced people, with four shells hitting the camp.

The army and the RSF have not yet commented on the incident.

The war in Sudan began in April 2023, sparked by disagreements between army Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo over the integration of the RSF into the army.

The conflict has led to a devastating humanitarian crisis, with nearly 18,800 people killed and millions displaced due to ongoing clashes.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala​​​​​​​