Air and Artillery Strikes: Different Points of View Same Victims

Air and artillery strikes have been a usual thing ever since the war between the SAF and the RSF erupted. What has developed over the past few weeks is the targeting of marketplaces, which led to many civilian casualties and fueled the already-acute food security situation in Khartoum and Darfur. The MSF described last week’s air strike as the deadliest since the conflict erupted; more than 100 people were severely injured with half of them dying hours later.

These targeted strikes have divided the public responses into two groups, each building on a different narrative. The first is acknowledging these marketplaces as de facto markets as all the publicly known ones were destroyed and looted, and reaching out to them is not possible due to the extreme security situation. The other refuses to view the current marketplaces as “normal” marketplaces, instead as “black markets” which they named “Daglo markets” which are believed to be places where all looted items including furniture and food are being cheaply sold.

More than 55 others were wounded in the attack in Khartoum’s Mayo neighborhood, where paramilitary forces battling the military were heavily deployed, the Sudan Doctors’ Union said in a statement. The causalities were taken to the Bashair University Hospital for treatment.

Each narrative is interpreted as a “political line”, the first, views such strikes as a complete war crime and calls for justice and holds those responsible accountable. However, the latter not only agrees with strikes but also calls for more of them as “they will limit the recruitment of new RSF combatants and eliminate more looters”.

While the public views differ regarding artillery and air strikes, it’s the same with the civilian casualties and targeting, and not only in Khartoum, as Darfur states, especially south and north Darfur.

Since the start of September, the civilian death toll has exceeded 150 as a result of SAF air strikes and booming.

• Wad al-Agali, Kalakla al-Qubba, Khartoum
  • Date: September 2
  • Casualties: 21 civilians killed, 6 severely injured
  • Reported cause of the attack: “Airstrike” (Kalakla Emergency Room)
  • Geolocation of the attack site: 15.4431883, 32.4682369
• Ombada Block 21
  • Date: September 3
  • Casualties: 34 civilians killed, unconfirmed number of injured
  • Reported cause of the attack: “SAF artillery and drones” (Ombada Block 21 Resistance Committee, Ombada Emergency Response Room)
  • Location of the attack site: Photographed but not yet geolocated.
• Al-Hajj Yusuf al-Wahda blocks 7 and 10, East Nile
  • Date: September 9
  • Casualties: Alban Jadid Hospital received 45 casualties, 6 of whom were dead on arrival. Other victims were buried without being taken to hospital, according to the East Nile Emergency Room.
  • Reported cause of the attack: “airstrike” (East Nile Emergency Room)
  • Geolocation of the attack site: 15.615276 32.649899
• Goro Market, Khartoum Mayo
  • Date: September 10
  • Fatalities: 43 dead (MSF), more than 60 wounded; 46 dead (Southern Belt Emergency Room)
  • Reported cause of the attack: “Airstrike” (Southern Belt Emergency Room)
  • Geolocation of the attack site: 15.488908, 32.535643

• Dar al-Salaam, East Nile (near Hillat Koko Market)
  • Date: September 12
  • Casualties: Unconfirmed number of dead; 10 wounded (MSF)
  • Note: not all of the casualties in this attack were civilians, as the video shows at least one wounded RSF soldier being carried away after the attack.
  • Reported cause of the attack: “drone” (East Nile Emergency Room)
  • Geolocation of the attack site: 15.6103595, 32.6029342
• Ombada al-Amir (Ombada Block 4)
  • Date: September 12
  • Casualties: 6 dead, several wounded (Ombada al-Amir Emergency Room)
  • Reported cause of the attack: “a missile projectile from an Armed Forces aircraft, leading to the death of six people, a number of serious injuries and the destruction of a number of homes” (Emergency Room of Ombada al-Amir).
  • Location of the attack site: Photographed but not yet geolocated.
• Malja market and other locations, Nyala, South Darfur
  • Date: September 13
  • Casualties: 40 civilian deaths, dozens of injured (AFP and Radio Dabanga, citing medical sources)
  • Reported cause of the attack: “Antonov airplane” (Radio Dabanga, citing witnesses; video of the aircraft)
  • Location of the attack site: Photographed but not yet geolocated.