Landmine explosion kills 42 in Central Sudan

In Central Sudan, at least 42 civilians died in a landmine explosion in Sinnar State and two attacks in Gezira State over the past two days, local volunteer groups reported Friday.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) allegedly carried out the attacks.

The Al-Suki Emergency Room (AER), a volunteer group in Al-Suki city in Sennar State, said in a statement that 13 people from the Al-Suki area died.

AER added that many others sustained injuries when a landmine exploded in their pickup truck in the Jebel Moya area.

It added that the victims were on a trip from Al-Suki to Jebel Moya when the explosion occurred. They were searching for stolen cars and equipment.

On Oct. 5, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) claimed it retook the strategic Jebel Moya area in Sinnar, a crossroads linking Gezira, White Nile and Sinnar states.

The recapture of Jebel Moya enabled the SAF to besiege the RSF fighters in Sinnar and cut off their supply lines.

Meanwhile, 29 civilians died on Wednesday and Thursday in RSF attacks on many villages in Gezira State, volunteer groups said.

“The RSF militia attacked the village of Wad Hussein Al-Halaween in Al-Housh area south of Gezira State yesterday (Thursday),” the Gezira Conference, said in a statement.

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Gezira Conference is a local non-governmental group monitoring violations in central Sudan.

“The militia bombarded the village before storming it and killing five citizens.

“Those killed included two, run over by a vehicle while they were tied up,” the group said.

Gezira Conference, and another local volunteer group, Nidaa Al-Wasat Platform, both reported that armed RSF forces also attacked several villages.

Accordin g to them, RSF carried out the attacks in the Al-Huda Administration of Al-Managil locality in Gezira on Wednesday.

They said RSF, riding motorcycles and combat vehicles, killed 24 civilians and injuring about 30 others. The RSF has not commented on these incidents.

A devastating conflict between the SAF and the RSF has gripped Sudan since mid-April 2023.

The deadly conflict has resulted in more than 28,700 deaths and displaced over 14 million people, according to latest estimates by international organisations (Xinhua)