At least nine people were killed and 11 others injured in an airstrike by General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) Koma, North Darfur, on Thursday. The attack marks another chapter in the relentless bombardment campaign that has devastated the town since the conflict began.
Omda Ibrahim Idris Dumo confirmed that the strike targeted a civilian area, describing it as the 72nd such attack on El Koma. “Why bomb unarmed civilians?” he questioned, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the assault.
According to civil society activist Saleh Harirein, eight barrel bombs were dropped across two neighborhoods, causing widespread destruction. Harirein, who spoke to Radio Dabanga, claimed the ongoing airstrikes have “killed hundreds” in recent weeks.
Residents and local leaders, including Omda Muhammed Adam Ajallah, insist there is no military presence in the town. Ajallah called for urgent international intervention to protect civilians. “Last week, humanitarian aid organisations found no trace of weapons or troops here,” he said.
El Koma, located 75 kilometers northeast of El Fasher, has become a refuge for over 45,000 displaced families fleeing violence across Darfur, Khartoum, and Kordofan.
Despite its civilian nature, the SAF reportedly suspects the town of harboring military supplies linked to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Activists like Harirein strongly deny these allegations, citing the destruction of the town’s infrastructure and mass displacement.
The most catastrophic bombing in El Koma occurred on October 4, when over 70 people were killed, and 200 were injured.
As the humanitarian situation worsens, calls for international action to safeguard civilians grow more urgent.
