A humanitarian cargo aircraft was bombed on Tuesday shortly after landing at an airport in western Darfur controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to eyewitnesses and local sources, as General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) escalate their aerial operations across the war-torn region.
The attack, which reportedly targeted a humanitarian-linked cargo delivery, took place amid a wider SAF airstrike campaign in Darfur, which has drawn condemnation from civil society groups and displaced communities.
The RSF has not yet confirmed the cargo’s origin, but sources say it may have been delivering medical and logistical supplies for civilian use in RSF-administered zones.
“This is yet another reckless and deliberate bombing by the SAF against infrastructure that serves civilians,” an RSF field officer said in a statement. “They are trying to suffocate our people, not defeat us militarily.”
Witnesses in the area said the cargo plane had just landed when an explosion tore through the tarmac.
The strike follows a string of SAF attacks on RSF-controlled areas in South and West Darfur, including Nyala, where recent bombings have reportedly killed dozens of civilians. Rights groups say the SAF’s reliance on unguided bombs in populated areas has caused significant collateral damage and further displaced vulnerable populations.
Since the war broke out in April 2023, the RSF has positioned itself as a protector of civilians in Darfur and a proponent of a civilian-led political solution, while the SAF continues to launch airstrikes from its strongholds in northern and eastern Sudan.
The RSF accuses the SAF of receiving logistical and military support from regional actors, including Egypt, and using foreign-piloted aircraft in operations targeting RSF zones.
