A Sudanese military aircraft crashed on Tuesday in the city of Omdurman, resulting in the deaths of at least 46 people, including both military personnel and civilians, news agency AP reported.
The Antonov plane, which is made by a Ukrainian company, was taking off from Wadi Sayidna airbase north of Omdurman, went down shortly after departure. Although the military confirmed the casualties, it did not provide further details on the cause of the crash. The health ministry reported that the bodies of the victims were transferred to Nau Hospital in Omdurman, where five injured civilians, including two young siblings, were also treated.
Sudan has been embroiled in civil war since April 2023, when tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) escalated into open conflict.
The war has led to widespread destruction, particularly in urban areas, and has been characterised by atrocities, including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings, especially in the Darfur region. Recently, the fighting has intensified, with the military gaining ground against the RSF in various regions, including the capital Khartoum.
The crash near Omdurman follows a series of escalations between the military and the RSF, with both sides targeting each other’s assets. The RSF claimed responsibility for downing a military aircraft in Nyala, South Darfur, just a day before the Omdurman crash. Meanwhile, the military continues its offensive against the RSF, which holds significant territory in Darfur and other regions of Sudan.
The ongoing conflict has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with more than 24,000 people killed and over 14 million displaced. International aid organisations, such as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), have been forced to halt operations in areas like the famine-stricken Zamzam camp in North Darfur due to escalating violence. With roads unsafe and aid delivery increasingly difficult, many civilians, including those in desperate need of medical care, remain trapped in war-torn regions.