Shelling kills 21 at market in southeast Sudan on Sunday

On Sunday, shelling in the town of Sennar, southeast Sudan, resulted in the deaths of at least 21 individuals and left over 70 wounded. This attack occurred shortly after the Sudanese government rejected a UN experts' call for an independent force to protect civilians amid the ongoing civil war. The Sudan Doctors Network attributed the shelling to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been engaged in conflict with the Sudanese army since April of the previous year. The civil war has led to a humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands of fatalities and millions displaced. The UN experts reported that eight million civilians have been forced to flee their homes, with two million seeking refuge in neighboring countries. The situation has been exacerbated by acute food shortages affecting over half of Sudan's population, as well as natural disasters and disease outbreaks. In a statement, the Sudanese foreign ministry condemned the UN's recommendations, labeling them as a violation of their mandate and asserting that the protection of civilians is a priority for the government. However, the ministry also accused the RSF of systematically targeting civilians, highlighting the complexity and contradictions in the government's stance. The World Health Organization's chief emphasized the dire circumstances in Sudan, calling for urgent international assistance to address the multifaceted crises. The ongoing conflict, coupled with the government's rejection of external intervention, raises concerns about the future stability and humanitarian conditions in the region.