Sudan military’s strike on market in capital kills at least 23: Rescuers
Al JazeeraOct 11
Sudan: Army Air Strikes Kill at Least 23 in Khartoum Market
Above: Smoke billows during air strikes in central Khartoum as the Sudanese army attacks positions held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) throughout the Sudanese capital on Oct. 12, 2024. Image copyright: AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Volunteer rescuers in Sudan reported on Sunday that at least 23 people were killed and 40 others were injured — some in critical condition — as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) carried out an airstrike on a market in the capital, Khartoum, the previous day.
According to a spokesperson for the Southern Belt Emergency Room, the bombing "caused massive destruction" around the market area. Shopkeepers, shoppers, and local residents were among the casualties.
The Spin
Narrative A
The continued destruction of Khartoum by both the RSF and the SAF is a reminder of the wanton disregard by the country's elite for Sudan's historic and cultural center. There must be hope that, in time, once the dust has settled and the conflict is over a new generation of leadership will break through, seeking to unite rather than destroy the country's very foundations.
Narrative B
It's hard to see a way out of the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces. Not now, not anytime soon. That's not only because both sides continue to claim victories and inflict losses upon one another, but mainly because this war isn't just about two generals vying for power — especially as they lack control over their followers and allied militias.