A tragic plane crash in Sudan has claimed the lives of 46 people, including both military personnel and civilians, after a Sudanese military transport plane crashed into a residential area on the outskirts of Khartoum.
The Antonov aircraft went down late Tuesday night, near the Wadi Seidna air base, one of the country’s largest military hubs located in Omdurman, northwest of the capital.
The Sudanese army, which has been engaged in a brutal conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023, reported that the crash occurred during the plane’s takeoff. According to the Khartoum regional government, a final tally revealed 46 dead and 10 injured. The army initially reported 19 dead, but the toll was later revised upwards.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by widespread damage to homes in the area. The crash also caused power outages in nearby neighborhoods. Emergency teams were quick to respond, rushing injured civilians, including children, to local hospitals.
Cause of the Crash
A military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, cited a technical malfunction as the probable cause of the crash. However, this has not been independently verified by the army or other official sources.
Escalating Conflict
This crash comes on the heels of an escalation in the ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the RSF. The previous day, the RSF claimed responsibility for shooting down a Russian-made Ilyushin aircraft over Nyala, in South Darfur. The paramilitary group said the aircraft was destroyed with its crew onboard.
The army has recently made significant advances in central Sudan and the capital Khartoum, intensifying its multi-front offensive against the RSF. Despite these advances, the conflict, which began in April 2023, remains deadlocked in a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamadan Daglo.
Humanitarian Crisis
The war has plunged Sudan into one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters in recent history. The United Nations reports that the conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced over 12 million people, leading to widespread hunger and the destruction of critical infrastructure.
The situation continues to worsen, with no resolution in sight to the deadly power struggle between Burhan and Daglo. The recent signing of a charter by the RSF and its allies in Nairobi, Kenya has further complicated peace efforts, as it paves the way for the formation of a parallel government in the rebel-controlled areas.
As the fighting intensifies, the humanitarian crisis deepens, with civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict.
