Written by: Badr Ahmed

The square witnessed SudaneseOn Saturday, there were rapid field and security developments, following a deadly attack that targeted the Al-Marra area, located west of the city of Bara in North Kordofan State, and resulted in dozens of casualties, both dead and wounded, amid an exchange of accusations between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, at a time when the army announced the downing of a drone that it said belonged to the Rapid Support Forces in the White Nile State.

New escalation in Sudan

The Sudanese government and political forces loyal to the army condemned the attack that targeted villages and residential areas in the Bara countryside, considering it a serious violation against civilians.

Sudan’s Minister of Culture and Information, Khaled Al-Aisir, said that what happened is part of a series of violations targeting citizens in North Kordofan, accusing the Rapid Support Forces of being responsible for the attack.

Al-Aisir called on the United Nations and international and regional organizations to condemn what he described as grave violations and to work to hold those responsible accountable, stressing the state’s solidarity with the families of the victims and its continued efforts to restore security and stability.

For its part, the government of North Kordofan state announced that the initial toll of the attack was 31 dead and a number of wounded, and described the incident as a crime against humanity. .

Local authorities affirmed their continued coordination with the armed forces, security services, and community leaders to contain the situation, in addition to providing humanitarian and medical assistance to those affected. Government officials also visited the injured at Alawiya Yassin Hospital in El Obeid and directed that they receive the necessary medical care.

In contrast, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) denied responsibility for the attack, asserting that the accusations against them were part of a political and military campaign. In a statement, they accused military intelligence of supporting tribal groups in Kordofan to fuel local conflicts and escalate security tensions. Furthermore, RSF supporters warned of the dangers of the region descending into tribal conflict, which could broaden the scope of the war and threaten the social fabric of the area.

Concurrently, the Sudanese army announced the downing of a drone, which it described as strategic, over the city of Kenana in White Nile State. Local officials explained that the drone was carrying eight missiles, confirming that air defenses successfully detected and engaged it before it reached its targets.

These events come amid the ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, with escalating military operations and the increasing use of drones, raising growing concerns about a worsening humanitarian crisis and the expansion of confrontations across the country.