• 5 civilians killed, 13 others injured in RSF shelling of market in South Kordofan, medical group says

KHARTOUM, Sudan/ISTANBUL

A pro-Sudanese army joint force said Monday that 19 civilians were killed in a large-scale ground attack carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Jarjira area of North Darfur.

In a statement, the Joint Force of Armed Movements said the Sudanese army, backed by the joint force and vigilante groups, repelled the assault late Sunday, preventing RSF fighters from advancing in and around the area.

The force said its troops inflicted heavy losses on the RSF in personnel and equipment and captured several fighters during the clashes.

According to the statement, retreating RSF elements carried out what it described as criminal acts against civilians, including killings and abductions, resulting in the deaths of 19 civilians.

Separately, the Justice and Equality Movement, one of the main factions within the joint force, said six of its fighters were killed during the fighting in Jarjira.

In a separate incident, Sudan Doctors Network said five civilians were killed and 13 others injured after RSF forces shelled a market in the town of Kartala in South Kordofan state.

In a statement, the independent medical group said an RSF drone strike targeted the Kartala market on Sunday, stressing that all the victims were civilians.

The network strongly condemned what it described as the direct targeting of civilians, holding the RSF leadership fully responsible for the attack, which it said constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law.

It called on the international community, the United Nations and human rights organizations to take urgent action to protect civilians in conflict areas and pressure the RSF to halt attacks on markets and residential neighborhoods.

The group said it continues to monitor the health situation and provide medical support to the wounded, urging the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and the opening of safe corridors to allow humanitarian aid to reach those affected.

There was no immediate comment from the RSF on the statements.

On Saturday, the rebel group claimed control of the Jarjira area through videos posted on Telegram.

Of Sudan’s 18 states, the RSF controls all five states of the Darfur region in the west, except for some northern parts of North Darfur that remain under army control. The army, in turn, holds most areas of the remaining 13 states in the south, north, east and center, including the capital Khartoum.

The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which began in April 2023, has since killed thousands of people and displaced millions of others.