A widespread protest led by the Native Administration of the East Darfur tribes took place on Friday, expressing strong opposition to the military air strikes targeting the city of El Daein.
Addressing the demonstrators on behalf of civil leaders, Mayor Omar Khalid urged immediate intervention from the Secretary General of the United Nations, the African Union, IGAD, the Human Rights Organization, and the International Court.
The call was to protect civilians in Darfur and enforce the decision to prohibit military flights in the region.
Mayor Khalid strongly condemned the air attack on El Daein and other areas in East Darfur by the Sudanese Armed Forces, under the leadership of Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
The condemnation centered on the bombing of defenceless civilians, including women, children, and refugees from South Sudan who sought shelter in the region.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Deng Malong, a South Sudanese refugee in El Daein, revealed that the cessation of support from relief organizations has compelled them to resort to manual labour to sustain themselves.
Expressing deep sorrow, Malong lamented the loss of fellow refugees, specifically citing the recent air strike that claimed the lives of three individuals. The airstrike, which occurred three days ago in the city of Al Daein, resulted in the tragic death of 11 people, including an entire family.
The Sudanese war is brutal, devastating and shows no sign of coming to an end. It is fought principally between the Sudan Armed Forces, under the command of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, headed by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as ‘Hemedti’.
Hostilities erupted on 15 April, 2023. There is direct fighting between the two belligerents in the capital Khartoum, in Darfur and other parts of the country. The RSF is accused of atrocities against civilians, including killing, rape and pillage, while SAF aircraft have bombed civilian targets and critical infrastructure.
According to United Nations figures, the number of people displaced by conflict since 15 April 2023 inside and outside of Sudan has reached 8.1 million. Since mid-April 2023, ACLED has recorded about 13,900 reported fatalities in Sudan.