Sudanese paramilitary shelling in El-Obeid killed six people, including a child, and wounded eight others. The city has endured eight consecutive days of bombardment by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) amid a conflict with the army. The war has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 12 million people, pushing Sudan towards famine.
On Friday, June 23, 2023, shelling by Sudanese paramilitary forces in El-Obeid resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including a child, as reported by an attending physician. This incident occurred shortly after the Sudanese military lifted a prolonged siege on the city.
El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, has faced continuous bombardment from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the past eight days. The RSF has been engaged in an ongoing conflict with the army since April 2023, intensifying the violence and instability in the region.
According to a doctor at the main hospital, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, the recent shelling also left eight civilians injured overnight on Thursday and Friday mornings, with additional casualties reported on Sunday, where nine civilians were killed and 21 injured.
Residents have suffered continual attacks from the RSF, which seeks to regain territory lost to the army. Following a nearly two-year siege, the Sudanese military recently managed to reestablish control over El-Obeid, a critical junction connecting Khartoum to Darfur in the west.
The war has deeply fragmented Sudan, with the RSF consolidating power in Darfur and areas of the south, while the army maintains control over the north and east. Recently, the army has made significant gains in reclaiming territory in Khartoum and central Sudan.
The conflict originated from a power struggle between General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the army chief, and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leader of the RSF. This struggle has escalated into a humanitarian catastrophe, displacing over 12 million people and pushing the nation to the brink of famine, while resulting in tens of thousands of fatalities.
The recent shelling in El-Obeid underscores the ongoing violence between Sudanese paramilitary forces and the military. With escalating casualties and a severe humanitarian crisis, Sudan continues to face extensive challenges due to the conflict. The situation remains dire, as significant portions of the population have been uprooted and devastated by the war, resulting in one of the world’s largest displacement crises.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
