Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) accused the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of carrying out devastating airstrikes on the Tora market in North Darfur, claiming the attack resulted in hundreds of casualties.

The bombing, which occurred in a rebel-held area north of El Fasher, the state capital, has been described as one of the deadliest single incidents in Sudan’s nearly two-year civil war. Independent reports from the Sudan Tribune suggest over 100 people were killed and dozens injured, though exact figures remain unverified due to the ongoing conflict and limited access to the region.

The RSF, locked in a power struggle with the SAF since April 2023, condemned the airstrikes as a deliberate targeting of civilians. The Sudanese army has not officially responded to the allegations, though military spokespersons have previously denied targeting civilian areas, asserting that their operations focus on RSF positions.

The United Nations, through spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, expressed grave alarm over the incident, citing it alongside an RSF artillery attack on a Khartoum mosque the previous day as evidence of escalating violence against civilians.

The Tora market strike comes amid the SAF’s recent territorial gains, including reclaiming parts of Khartoum and Omdurman in early 2025. North Darfur remains a volatile battleground, with El Fasher under military control but surrounded by RSF forces.

The conflict, which has displaced over 15 million and killed tens of thousands, continues to exacerbate Sudan’s humanitarian crisis, with both sides accused of war crimes. Today’s accusations underscore the deepening rift and the toll on civilians caught in the crossfire.