Crisis in Darfur: RSF Claims Foreign Warplane Shootdown Amid Ongoing Conflict

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed to have shot down a cargo jet in Darfur, sparking a Russian diplomatic investigation. The RSF accused the aircraft of aiding the Sudanese army. Sudan's ongoing conflict has seen over 24,000 casualties. The power struggle began after generals ousted a dictator in 2021.

In a significant development within Sudan's ongoing conflict, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed on Monday to have shot down a cargo aircraft in Darfur. The incident, reported in the country's far west, has prompted an investigation by Russian diplomats.

Video evidence purportedly shows a debris field along with recovered identity documents. Russia's Embassy in Khartoum confirmed its efforts to ascertain details, particularly as there may have been Russian nationals aboard the flight in Sudan's Malha region near the Chad border.

The RSF's claim that the aircraft was assisting the Sudanese military by dropping 'barrel bombs' on civilians adds complexity to the situation, raising international concerns over Sudan's military clashes that have already claimed over 24,000 lives since April 2023.

(With inputs from agencies.)