A drone strike on a funeral gathering in al-Luweib village, North Kordofan state, has resulted in the deaths of at least 40 people. Officials and activists attribute the attack, which occurred on Monday, to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The incident takes place amidst intensified fighting in the region and growing humanitarian concerns across Sudan.
Funeral Attack and Allegations
Officials and activists report that a drone strike targeted a funeral in al-Luweib village, located 15km east of el-Obeid, on Monday. At least 40 individuals were killed, with dozens more injured, as mourners had gathered in a tent. Mohamed Ismail, North Kordofan's humanitarian aid commissioner, stated that drones belonging to the RSF militia attacked the funeral. The RSF has not yet commented on the incident.
Intensified Fighting and Displacement
Fighting has intensified in the Kordofan area. Around 20,000 people reportedly fled to el-Obeid last week after the RSF captured Bara town, 30km north of the city. Many of those displaced reportedly died before receiving hospital care in el-Obeid, a city that connects the capital, Khartoum, to the Darfur region. The UN previously reported that el-Obeid was already struggling to manage the influx of people fleeing Bara. The UN also stated that summary executions of civilians by RSF fighters had been reported in Bara.
Humanitarian Situation in El-Fasher and Kadugli
The city of el-Fasher, previously identified as the army's last stronghold in Darfur, fell around the same time as Bara. Following the RSF's entry into el-Fasher last weekend, reports have emerged of mass killings, sexual violence, abductions, and widespread looting by RSF fighters. The RSF leader has pledged to investigate "violations" but the group has denied allegations that killings in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated.
A global group of food security experts, the UN-accredited Integrated Food Security Phase network (IPC), confirmed on Monday that el-Fasher residents are experiencing famine following an 18-month siege by the RSF. The IPC also reported that the city of Kadugli in South Kordofan state, located nearly 300km south of el-Obeid, is experiencing the most catastrophic stage of hunger, having been surrounded and deprived of supplies by the RSF.
International Response and Peace Efforts
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has warned that such reported atrocities could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. UN chief António Guterres called for an immediate halt to the violence, warning that the humanitarian crisis is rapidly worsening and "spiralling out of control." He stated that el-Fasher and its surrounding areas have been an "epicentre of suffering, hunger, violence and displacement." Guterres urged both the army and the RSF to engage in negotiations to end the violence.
A Sudanese government source informed AFP that authorities are considering a US proposal for a truce. Washington, alongside other states, has been advocating for a ceasefire and a roadmap to resolve the conflict. Several rounds of peace talks in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have concluded without an agreement, with both sides reportedly unwilling to accept a ceasefire.
Overall Conflict Toll
Since the civil war began between the army and the RSF in April 2023, over 150,000 people have died, and approximately 12 million have fled their homes. The UN has characterized this situation as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.