A Sudanese military airstrike on a market in North Darfur has killed over 100 people and left hundreds more injured, according to the Emergency Lawyers, a pro-democracy group documenting human rights violations in Sudan’s ongoing conflict. The strike took place on Monday, December 9, in Kabkabiya, a town under siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since May.
The airstrike occurred during the town’s weekly market day, where residents from nearby villages had gathered to shop. The lawyers’ group reported that the attack resulted in more than 100 deaths and hundreds of injuries, including women and children.
Footage from the Darfur General Coordination of Camps for the Displaced and Refugees allegedly shows the aftermath, with people sifting through rubble and the charred remains of children. AFP has not independently verified the footage.
The group also reported that on the same day, barrel bombs were dropped on three neighborhoods in Nyala, South Darfur’s capital, though no casualties were reported. Additionally, a drone crash in North Kordofan on November 26 exploded on Monday, killing six people.
The lawyers condemned these attacks, labeling them part of an “escalation campaign” targeting civilian areas. Both the Sudanese army and RSF have been accused of indiscriminately bombing residential areas, a tactic that has become common in the conflict.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher has called for international intervention, warning that nearly 26 million people—around half of Sudan’s population—are at risk of starvation. The conflict, which began in April 2023, has already killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, with Darfur housing more than half of Sudan’s displaced population.
