Sudanese NGO workers killed in Khartoum drone strike

Drone Strike Kills Five Civilians in Khartoum, Sudan

A drone strike carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in the deaths of five civilians in Khartoum, according to an NGO. The attack occurred on Saturday and is the second to take place in the capital within a week.

The RSF has been accused of breaching international humanitarian law by Emergency Lawyers, an independent legal group supporting victims of human rights violations in Sudan. The incident is part of an ongoing pattern of attacks on civilians, with nearly 700 civilians killed in drone strikes in the first three months of this year, according to UN figures.

The attack follows a period of relative calm in the city after government forces regained control last year. However, violence has also spread to other areas, including southeastern Blue Nile state near the border with Ethiopia. The RSF has been expanding its control in the western Darfur region and pushing into neighboring areas, capturing valuable oil-producing assets.

In recent months, Khartoum has seen a decrease in drone strikes, but the city remains without electricity or basic services. Over 1.8 million displaced residents have returned, and the airport has resumed domestic flights. The conflict between the Sudanese government and the RSF began in April 2023, resulting in around 14 million people being displaced and two-thirds of the population requiring humanitarian support.

The Sudanese army launched a rapid counteroffensive last year that pushed the RSF out of the capital, declaring the Khartoum region “completely free” of the group. The RSF has largely concentrated on expanding its control in Darfur since then.

Source: Al Jazeera