At least 70 civilians were killed on Friday when a drone strike hit a mosque in the city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, Sudan.
According to local officials and the Sudanese army, the attack was carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Many of the victims were displaced people who had sought refuge in the city.
Army’s Statement
The Sudanese army’s Sixth Infantry Division said in a statement that RSF fighters targeted worshippers during Friday prayers at Safiya Mosque. The strike, it said, resulted in the deaths of more than 75 civilians.
Siege and Escalation
El Fasher remains the army’s last major stronghold in Darfur, a region that has been under siege by the RSF since May 2024. In recent months, attempts to hit military installations have also damaged hospitals, schools, and shelters for displaced people.
Eyewitness Accounts
Local volunteers reported that bodies of worshippers were pulled from the rubble of the mosque. Videos released by community resistance committees on social media showed the collapsed structure and dozens of casualties.
Human Rights Reaction
The Sudanese Doctors’ Union condemned the attack, calling it “a grave crime against unarmed civilians” and a violation of humanitarian values and international law.
UN Warning
The United Nations has warned that Sudan’s civil war is increasingly marked by ethnic violence, with civilians paying the heaviest price.