In a tragic incident, five children were killed by indiscriminate fire by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group in Al-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State in western Sudan. The Sudanese army reported the incident on Thursday, adding that four women were also wounded in the attack that hit several areas of the city.
Two RSF combat vehicles were later seized in a combing operation, the army said. Despite the violence, the army assured that the situation in Al-Fasher had stabilized. The RSF has yet to respond to the allegations.
Al-Fasher serves as a critical humanitarian hub for the five Darfur states. However, the RSF’s control of the region is waning as the Sudanese army gains power in the capital, Khartoum, and other states. Currently, the paramilitary group maintains control over four of the five Darfur states, while northern and eastern Sudan remain relatively unaffected by the conflict.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF broke out in mid-April 2023. Since then, more than 20,000 people have been killed and 15 million displaced, according to UN and local authorities. However, research from US universities estimates the death toll to be around 130,000.