54 killed as RSF attack market in Sudan

An attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group in Sudan, on an open market has left 54 people dead and at least 158 wounded.

Saturday’s attack is the latest escalation in a war between the RSF and Sudanese troops that has dragged on for nearly two years.

Khalid al-Aleisir, minister of culture and government spokesperson, condemned the attack.

The minister said the casualties included many women and children, and that the attack caused “widespread destruction to private and public properties”.

“This criminal act adds to the bloody record of this militia,” Al-Aleisir said in a statement.

“It constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.”

RSF said the market was not its target and blamed Sudanese troops for using civilians as shields.

Last week, about 70 people were killed in an RSF attack on the only functional hospital in El Fasher, a besieged city in the country’s western region.

The United Nations (UN) says over 28,000 people have been killed in the conflict while millions have been left displaced.

The UN and rights groups have also said the war has been marked by gross atrocities including ethnically motivated killing and rape.

TheCable wrote an explainer detailing factors that led to the war.