Responding to reports that dozens of people were killed in a Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) airstrike on a crowded market in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)-controlled town of Kabkabia in North Darfur, Amnesty International’s regional director for East and Southern Africa Tigere Chagutah said:
“Bombing a market full of civilians is one of the clearest examples of war crimes in existence. In any case, the possible presence of soldiers in an area cannot be used as a justification.
Bombing a market full of civilians is one of the clearest examples of war crimes in existence.
Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International Regional Director for East and Southern Africa
“Amnesty International has received reports, including from witnesses in Kabukabia, that military aircraft bombed Kabukabia’s weekly market on 9 December when the area was crowded with civilians, killing several Ten people died. According to representatives of displaced persons from Darfur, 15 of the dead were displaced civilians who had fled to Kabukabia to escape attacks elsewhere.
“The Sudanese Armed Forces and Forces Without Borders, as well as all other parties to the conflict in Sudan, must immediately cease all attacks on civilians. All those suspected of criminal responsibility for this attack and all others targeting Sudanese civilians should be brought to justice He was brought to justice at trial.
background
The Kabukabia attack appeared to be part of a wave of airstrikes reported by aid groups and conflict monitors last week.
The Sudanese Armed Forces and Forces Without Borders, along with all other parties to the conflict in Sudan, must immediately cease all attacks on civilians.
Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International Regional Director for East and Southern Africa
Amnesty International has previously documented other cases of Sudanese armed forces carrying out airstrikes against civilian areas during the ongoing conflict with Forces Without Borders, as well as during previous conflicts.
Attacking when civilians are most abundant can cause the greatest damage to civilians. International law prohibits attacks on civilian objects and requires all parties to a conflict to minimize harm to civilians.
