The conflict in Sudan intensified on Friday as both the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) accused each other of deadly assaults on civilians in central and western regions. The government, supported by the army, claimed the RSF was responsible for over 120 civilian deaths in Al-Jazira state, where fighting has worsened in recent weeks. Meanwhile, the RSF alleged that an army airstrike killed 60 civilians in North Darfur.
According to the army-backed government, the RSF committed a massacre in Hilaliya, Al-Jazira state, where residents have faced extreme food and medical shortages under siege. The Sudan Doctors’ Union reported acute diarrhoea and possible cholera outbreaks among residents, exacerbated by the lack of medical care.
In Darfur, the RSF reported that an army airstrike destroyed a school-turned-shelter in Al-Kuma, killing more than 60 civilians and injuring hundreds. Both sides continue to clash in the North Darfur region, which remains partly under army control.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed alarm over worsening conditions in Sudan, describing the conflict’s toll on civilians as “a nightmare of violence.” The ongoing conflict, which began in April, has claimed thousands of lives and forced over 11 million people to flee their homes.