Omdurman: Eight civilians were killed and four others injured in artillery shelling by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Omdurman, the twin city of Khartoum, the Sudanese Health Ministry said on Tuesday. A ministry statement revealed that the RSF targeted two areas in the Al-Thawra neighborhood on Monday night.
According to Anadolu Agency, the ministry described the RSF’s actions as “intense and systematic shelling” of Omdurman’s residential zones for the second consecutive day. There has been no immediate response from the RSF regarding these allegations by the ministry.
Previously, four individuals lost their lives, and 30 others suffered injuries due to RSF shelling in the city on Monday. Recently, the RSF has been losing territorial control swiftly to the Sudanese army across several states, including Khartoum, Al-Jazira, White Nile, North Kordofan, Sennar, and Blue Nile.
In the Khartoum state, which comprises three cities, the Sudanese army now controls all of Bahri City, most parts of Omdurman City, and 75% of central Khartoum City, which houses the Presidential Palace and the country’s main airport. However, the RSF continues to control the eastern and southern parts of the city.
The ongoing conflict between the army and RSF, which began in mid-April 2023, has resulted in over 20,000 deaths and displaced 14 million people, according to the UN and local authorities. Research from US universities suggests the death toll could be around 130,000.
International and UN demands for an end to the conflict are increasing, with warnings of a looming humanitarian crisis as millions face famine and death due to food shortages. The war has spread to 13 of Sudan’s 18 states.