Sudanese army airstrikes kill civilians in Darfur cities

July 14, 2024 (EL-GENEINA, NYALA) – Sudanese military warplanes launched a series of airstrikes on Sunday morning, targeting multiple locations in Nyala, South Darfur, and El Geneina, West Darfur. The attacks resulted in civilian casualties, including deaths and injuries.

Journalist Alaa El-Din Babiker, based in El Geneina, reported to Sudan Tribune that a girl was killed and approximately ten other individuals were wounded in the airstrikes on the city. He emphasized that the targeted sites were residential areas in the Al-Nasim neighbourhoods and the western part of El Geneina, with no apparent military objectives.

Since November of last year, West Darfur has been under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who ousted the Sudanese army from the state. The RSF has been accused of human rights violations and war crimes against the Masalit ethnic group. El Geneina has been repeatedly targeted by military airstrikes.

In Nyala, eyewitnesses reported to Sudan Tribune that a warplane circled the city for an extended period before dropping several unguided bombs. The Nyala Hospital for Women and Childbirth sustained damage in the bombing, along with a gas storage facility. Residential areas throughout Nyala were also hit. The city has faced frequent aerial bombardment since the RSF took control late last year.

The Sudanese military claims the airstrikes are aimed at destroying military supplies allegedly being delivered to the RSF by Emirati aircraft, including ammunition, rocket launchers, drones, and communications equipment. The RSF denies these allegations and accuses the army of intentionally targeting civilians to displace them.