The United Nations says that one year after fighting erupted between rival armed factions in Sudan, the country is still plunged into a devastating war, which has claimed nearly 15,000 lives and left 8 million civilians displaced.
On Thursday, June 13, 2024, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), under the command of General Mohamed Hamdan Doglo, known as Hemedti, announced via their X account handle that they had shot down a Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) warplane.
According to the publication read out to APA, the RSF “succeeded in shooting down a warplane belonging to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their extremist allies linked to the former regime.”
The RSF said that the aircraft was engaged in barrel bombing of innocent civilians in various towns across Sudan and wreckage from the burning aircraft was found scattered east of the town of El Fasher.
The publication added that “the SAF, alongside its terrorist guardians, the National Congress Party and its allied mercenaries, relentlessly bombed El Fasher (south-west), dropping more than 20 barrel bombs a day, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and widespread destruction of infrastructure and homes.”
Tensions between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been escalating for months. The conflict pits General Mohamed Hamdan Doglo, head of the RSF, against General Abdel Fattah Abdelrahmane al-Burhan, commander of the SAF.
The RSF claimed that they want “to resolve this conflict in favour of the Sudanese people to realise their aspirations for security, peace, freedom and democracy and to rebuild our country on new and just foundations.”
Last week, the RSF was accused of killing at least a hundred civilians in Wad al-Noura, in the centre of the country. The day after the attack, the RSF explained that they had anticipated an SAF offensive.
The situation remains tense, with intense fighting and a devastating impact on the civilian population.
According to the United Nations, one year after the start of the fighting between rival armed factions, Sudan is still plunged into a devastating war, which has claimed nearly 15,000 lives and left 8 million civilians displaced, while 25 million people in urgent need of assistance and looming famine.
AC/fss/GIK/APA