Sudan army claims dozens of RSF fighters killed in Nyala; paramilitary says civilians dead

The Sudanese army said in a statement that Friday's attacks targeted RSF positions and command centres in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state and the seat of the paramilitary group's self-declared administration. However, the RSF said the army carried out a drone attack on a busy livestock market, killing 30 civilians including 17 women and five children. The RSF has not confirmed or denied whether separate attacks by the army killed some of its fighters or destroyed its command centres.

Separately, the human rights group Emergency Lawyers said in a social media post that a market was hit on Friday in Nyala and that the drone used was "affiliated" with the Sudanese army.

Al Jazeera's Almigdad Alruhaid, reporting from Khartoum, said on Saturday that fighting between the army and RSF has intensified. In South Kordofan, a source in the Sudanese government told Al Jazeera that the RSF carried out drone attacks on mining sites, with exchanges of fire increasing in many parts of Sudan in the past 24 hours.

The army has repeatedly targeted the Darfur region in western Sudan with drones in an effort to retake territory controlled by the RSF, which holds most of the area. This month, Sudanese military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan promised to seize "every inch" of territory under RSF control.

The Sudanese civil war began in 2023 and has killed tens of thousands of people. The United Nations has described the situation in Sudan as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Conflicting casualty reports from Nyala underscore the difficulty of verifying information in Sudan's civil war, where both sides blame each other for civilian deaths.
The intensified fighting in Darfur and South Kordofan threatens to worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis, with the UN calling it the world's worst.
Continued drone strikes on markets and mining sites risk further civilian casualties and could deepen the conflict as the army tries to reclaim RSF-held territory.

Background

The Sudanese civil war erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF has gained control over large parts of Darfur and other regions, while the army retains control of parts of Khartoum and other areas. The army has increasingly used drones to target RSF positions and cities under the group's administration. This month, al-Burhan vowed to recapture all territory held by the RSF.

Key Perspectives

Sudanese Armed Forces: Argues that the attacks on Nyala were legitimate military strikes against RSF command centres and fighters, denying that civilians were targeted. Rapid Support Forces: Accuses the army of deliberately attacking a crowded livestock market, killing 30 civilians, mostly women and children. It has not addressed the army's claim of inflicted fighter casualties. Emergency Lawyers: A human rights group that reported a market was hit by a drone affiliated with the army, supporting the RSF's account of civilian casualties.

What to Watch

Any independent investigation or casualty count from humanitarian organisations on the ground in Nyala.
Whether the army announces further offensives to retake South Darfur.
Further escalation of drone warfare in Darfur and other regions, especially targeting civilian areas.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Background

Key Perspectives

What to Watch

Sources