At least 21 killed in air strike on market in Sudan’s South Darfur, medics say

NYALA, Sudan, Oct 28 – At least 21 people were killed and more than 40 others injured in an air strike that hit a crowded evening market in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state, a medical group said on Wednesday.

The strike hit the Tangoj night market in the Domaia district west of the city on Monday evening while vendors and shoppers were present, according to the Sudanese Doctors Network.

Local reports indicated the strike was part of a wave of military air raids hitting multiple locations across Nyala, which is controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

A spokesperson for the Sudanese military could not immediately be reached for comment. Reuters was unable to independently verify the casualty figures or the circumstances surrounding the strike.

The Sudanese Doctors Network said in a statement that cross-checked accounts from medical and local sources confirmed deaths and injuries at the site. It said verifying victims’ identities and compiling comprehensive casualty lists had been severely hampered by ongoing fighting and poor security.

The medical group said insecurity inside the city delayed the release of initial figures and continued to impede field documentation and tracking of the wounded.

The group expressed grave concern over strikes targeting civilian markets and gathering areas, warning that attacks on public spaces worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis and obstruct emergency medical response in conflict zones.

It urged all warring parties to abide by international humanitarian law, take necessary precautions to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure, and called for an independent investigation into the incident.