South Darfur: Nyala citizens protest against aerial bombardment

Citizens in Nyala town, capital of South Darfur State, stage protest against aerial bombardment on Tuesday, 19 December 2023. (Radio Tamazuj)

In a significant demonstration on Tuesday, citizens of Nyala in South Darfur State vehemently protested the military aircraft bombing plaguing their city.

In a significant demonstration on Tuesday, citizens of Nyala in South Darfur State vehemently protested the military aircraft bombing plaguing their city.

The protestors, brandishing slogans and banners, unequivocally demanded an immediate cessation of the aerial bombardment and the intimidation of citizens.

They urgently called upon the Secretary-General of the United Nations to activate Resolution 1956, specifically addressing the ban on military flights.

Expressing the community’s collective outrage, Al-Toum Al-Hadi Dabke, the head of the Executive Office of the Native Administration in South Darfur, spoke to Radio Tamazuj, stating, “All social components of Nyala came out denouncing the aerial bombardment, and about 74 tribes residing in the state participated in the demonstration, in addition to civil society organizations.”

He highlighted that following the Rapid Support Forces’ takeover of Nyala, the army subjected the city to multiple bombings despite the absence of active battles. Al-Toum urged the central government to address the urgent issue of unpaid worker salaries.

Additionally, he called upon the conflicting parties—the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces—to resume negotiations on the Jeddah Platform.

Mayada Mahmoud, a resident of Nyala, voiced concerns about the intention behind General Al-Burhan’s bombings, questioning whether they were aimed at Darfuri citizens or the Rapid Support Forces.

She raised an alarm about the pattern of airstrikes targeting various government facilities, ranging from schools to mosques. In the latest attack, a missile even struck a school.

Mayada asserted that the air attacks occurred in stable areas where no combat battles between the army and the Rapid Support Forces had taken place in the past week. According to her, “There were no combat battles between the army and the Rapid Support Forces within one week, and the army carried out three attacks on Nyala.”

The consequences of these airstrikes were severe, with 14 civilians losing their lives and 25 others sustaining injuries in an airstrike on Nyala last Thursday. The escalating impact on civilian lives emphasizes the urgency of addressing the situation and finding a peaceful resolution.

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