Sudanese Military Aircraft Crash Claims 46 Lives in Residential Area
A Sudanese military transport plane crashed into a residential area near Khartoum, killing 46 people and injuring 10 others. The cause of the crash may be a technical malfunction, as suggested by a military source. This incident comes amid ongoing civil war between the military and the RSF, intensifying the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
On Tuesday evening, a Sudanese military transport aircraft tragically crashed into a residential area near the Wadi Seidna air base, resulting in the death of 46 individuals, as reported by the AFP news agency. This military base is recognized as one of the largest military installations in Omdurman, which lies northwest of Khartoum. Local sources indicated that the aircraft was en route to Port Sudan, the seat of the military-supported government, though the military has not confirmed whether it carried senior officers.
According to a statement from the Khartoum regional government’s media office, the fatality count stands at 46, with an additional 10 individuals reported injured. The health ministry aligned with the military stated that emergency services promptly transported injured civilians, including children, to the closest hospital. A military source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, suggested that a technical malfunction might have led to the catastrophic incident.
Witnesses described a terrifying scene that included a loud explosion followed by plumes of thick smoke. Numerous homes have sustained damage, and the crash has resulted in power outages in the affected vicinity. The civil unrest in Sudan has been exacerbated by an ongoing war between the military and the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The conflict, which escalated dramatically in 2023, has led to severe violence and human rights violations in urban areas, including mass rape and ethnically driven killings, which the United Nations have designated as war crimes. Recent advances by the military against the RSF have been reported in Khartoum and surrounding regions, while the RSF claims to have brought down a military aircraft in Nyala city a day prior to the crash.
The tragic crash of a Sudanese military aircraft into a residential neighborhood has resulted in significant loss of life and injury, highlighting the severe ramifications of the civil war affecting the region. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between the military and paramilitary forces, amid reports of increasing human rights abuses during the conflict. The need for accountability and resolution is more pressing than ever to prevent further tragedies.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
