Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Air Force Commits Massacre Against Civilians in Kabkabia, North Darfur

The warring parties in Sudan, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), continue to ruthlessly target innocent civilians. Tragedy after tragedy unfolds almost daily, resulting in countless deaths, injuries, and displaced families.

On Monday, December 9th, the Sudanese Armed Forces’ air force launched successive airstrikes on Kabkabia, North Darfur—a state that has witnessed the highest number of aerial attacks after Khartoum since the war began. The strikes targeted civilian gatherings in the following areas:

. Vegetable and fruit market

. Meat market

. Mobile phone and electronics market

. Colombia market: A hub for shops, traditional cafes, and street vendors

. Residential neighborhoods

Over a hundred (100) civilians were killed in these attacks, and dozens more were injured, some with severe wounds requiring specialized medical care. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue.

Sources on the ground report that families are struggling to identify the victims due to severe disfigurement caused by the explosive weapons used, which are believed to contain incendiary chemicals.

Despite the absence of active hostilities in the area for months, Kabkabia has been subjected to relentless airstrikes since the war began, resulting in a high civilian death toll and widespread destruction of homes, schools, hospitals, and government buildings.

On December 8th, a separate airstrike targeted Market 6 in South Khartoum, killing 28 people and injuring many more. Additional strikes were carried out in the Dali and Mazmum areas of Sennar State, and in Tabat, Gezira State.

The Central Observatory for Human Rights-Sudan strongly condemns the targeting of civilians by the warring parties, which is a clear violation of international humanitarian law