Nearly two years after the start of the devastating war in Sudan, which has killed thousands of people and displaced millions of civilians, violations against the population continue, perpetrated by both the army and Muslim Brotherhood militias infiltrated into the state.
As the people have yet to overcome the suffering of grave violations, famine, and the destruction of infrastructure, a new atrocity rocked the country last Monday. Military aircraft carried out airstrikes on the Darfur region, killing hundreds of people, according to a report by the New York Times.
As the Sudanese army consolidated its military gains in the capital, Khartoum, its air force bombed a market in Darfur. Images and videos from the town of Tura, in North Darfur, show dozens of charred bodies and human remains scattered across the local market.
According to witnesses, many victims could not be identified due to the extreme violence of the bombardment, which hit poor and unarmed civilians with no connection to either side of the conflict.
The report emphasizes that this massacre in Darfur is a stark reminder of the ferocity of the Sudanese war, which has lasted nearly two years and is the largest conflict in Africa. It states that the Sudanese army is accused of indiscriminate bombing in areas under the control of the Rapid Support Forces, resulting in the deaths of dozens of civilians, particularly in Darfur.
The United Nations has condemned "the continued attacks against civilians" in Sudan. A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Stéphane Dujarric, said: "We are extremely concerned by the continued attacks targeting civilians across the country. Last night in Darfur, airstrikes on a market killed dozens." He also expressed concern about the "escalation of attacks" in densely populated areas of the capital, Khartoum.
Chemical weapons used
The violations committed by the Sudanese army against civilians have been described as war crimes by several local and international human rights organizations. But they have not stopped there: the army has also used chemical weapons on at least two occasions since the conflict began in April 2023, according to an article in New York Timespublished in mid-January.
According to the newspaper, citing four American sources, the Sudanese army used these chemical weapons in remote areas of the country during the clashes.
The article states that only a few people within the army are aware of this chemical weapons program, and that the army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, personally authorized their use against the Rapid Support Forces.
Persistent hostility with neighboring countries
In addition to violations against its own population, Burhan's policies have plunged Sudan into international isolation. The country's membership in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has been frozen and it has clashed with the European Union. At the same time, the regime is attempting to export the crisis to neighboring countries.
Last week, the Sudanese army escalated its provocations, threatening regional stability through belligerent statements by Yasser Al-Atta, assistant to the commander-in-chief of the Sudanese armed forces. He asserted that "N'Djamena airport and Am Djars airport are legitimate targets for the Sudanese army," accusing South Sudan of harboring what he called "corrupt and treasonous centers of influence."
In the same context, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs adopted a hostile stance towards Kenya, under the pretext that Nairobi hosted a meeting between Sudanese civil and political forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
In response, Kenya stated that it was committed to restoring security and political stability in Sudan and reestablishing a civilian government, in coordination with the United Nations and the African Union. Nairobi stressed that "the conflict in Sudan continues to destroy a country that, only four years ago, was on the path to stabilization, democratization, and prosperity for its people."
Sudanese affairs researcher Mahmoud Al-Hakimi commented on Burhan's policy, noting that "the recent emergence of radical Islamist brigades fighting alongside the army against the Rapid Support Forces, such as the Al-Baraa bin Malik, is a clear sign of the rapprochement between Burhan and the Islamist movement. But what has further complicated the situation is the emergence of fighters affiliated with the terrorist organization. Daech in Sudan and their involvement in the conflict.”
He added: "Burhan's mistake lies in his excessive rapprochement with the Islamists, which has led to internal divisions within the Sudanese army command, due to the growing influence of the Islamist movement. An influence that is also rejected by a large part of the population."
