Scores killed in Sudanese army attack on Darfur market, war monitor says

According to a war monitoring organization on Wednesday, an attack launched by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on a bustling market in western Darfur on Monday resulted in a "horrific massacre." This incident underscores the escalating violence and its devastating impact on civilian populations in the region.

The military shelling of the Turra market, located 80 kilometers north of El Fasher, resulted in hundreds of deaths, according to "Emergency Lawyers," a group of lawyers monitoring the war in Sudan. While official death tolls have yet to be confirmed, Sudanese aid organizations reported that the attack resulted in at least 54 deaths. The lack of immediate confirmation highlights the challenges in accurately assessing casualties amid ongoing conflict.

Darfur Victims Support (DVS), a local organization aiding conflict victims, cited eyewitness [reports](https://darfurvs.org/2025/03/25/report-on-the-aerial-bombardment-of-turra-north-darfur-on-march-24-2025/) stating that approximately 126 civilians were killed in the attack, with many bodies "burned beyond recognition." The organization noted that the market served as a commercial hub for the surrounding area and was crowded at the time of the attack (approximately 2 p.m.). DVS condemned the attack as "deliberate and planned," reporting that approximately 10 barrel bombs were dropped on the market, with one eyewitness reporting the use of white phosphorus in the attack. Such detailed accounts paint a grim picture of the violence inflicted on civilians.

Images shared by the organization depicted charred bodies scattered among the ruins of smoking market stalls. A list compiled by Adam Rijal, a spokesperson for the "General Coordination" of Darfur organizations helping displaced people, indicated that over half of the deceased were women. The Darfur Initiative for Justice and Peace (DIJP) condemned the attack as "the deadliest bombing since the start of the war," further emphasizing the severity of the incident.

United Nations Secretary-General spokesperson, Stefan Dujarric, stated that the UN is "deeply alarmed by the continuing attacks against civilians." A Sudanese Armed Forces spokesperson denied the allegations, insisting that civilians were not targeted. He added that such accusations against the military arise whenever our forces exercise their constitutional and legal rights to deal with hostile targets. This denial highlights the conflicting narratives surrounding the conflict and the challenges in establishing accountability.

Civilian deaths have surged in recent months as the nearly two-year-long conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensifies, with shelling, airstrikes, and drone attacks repeatedly hitting civilian areas. The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) [reported](https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1159931) that at least 275 people were killed between January 31 and February 5, a threefold increase compared to the previous week. At least 80 civilians were reportedly killed in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, with reports also surfacing of women and children being used as human shields. Also in February, the Rapid Support Forces killed 433 people in a [three-day attack](https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/rsf-massacres-people-it-forms-parallel-peace-government) in White Nile State. These reports underscore the widespread and escalating violence affecting civilian populations across Sudan.

An estimated 150,000 people have died so far in the conflict, which has been characterized by war crimes and crimes against humanity, including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings. According to the UN, approximately 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes, with over half the population currently facing "high levels of acute food insecurity." The ongoing conflict has created a humanitarian crisis of immense proportions, requiring urgent international attention and assistance.