By Rafiyat Sadiq
Sudan’s army has denied allegations that its forces bombed a convoy carrying humanitarian supplies to civilians in a famine-stricken region, amid intensifying scrutiny of both warring parties over the deepening humanitarian crisis.
Reports emerged on Friday that airstrikes had targeted vehicles transporting food and medical aid to communities cut off by months of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The alleged attack drew widespread concern from international observers and aid organisations.
In a statement, the army rejected the claims, insisting it had not carried out any assault on relief operations. “The Sudanese Armed Forces did not attack any humanitarian convoy. We remain committed to our obligations under international humanitarian law and continue to ensure that assistance reaches our people,” the statement said.
Growing Humanitarian Emergency
Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, when a power struggle between the army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, spiralled into nationwide violence.
The war has displaced millions and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. According to the United Nations, famine conditions are emerging in several regions, with at least five million people facing catastrophic food insecurity. Aid groups warn that without guaranteed safe corridors, starvation could claim tens of thousands of lives in the coming months.
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International relief agencies have repeatedly accused both sides of obstructing aid deliveries, with reports of looted warehouses, seized convoys, and blocked access routes. Thursday’s claims of a bombing intensified those concerns.
Aid Agencies Demand Assurances
The World Food Programme (WFP) and other humanitarian actors have appealed for security guarantees to allow trucks carrying essential supplies to reach besieged areas.
“We need unimpeded humanitarian access now. Any attack on aid convoys puts millions of lives at further risk,” one aid official told reporters in Nairobi.
Diplomatic pressure is also mounting, with the African Union and United Nations urging both the SAF and RSF to respect international norms. Negotiations brokered by regional powers in Jeddah earlier this year collapsed without a lasting ceasefire.
War of Denials
The RSF has yet to comment on the reported airstrike, while analysts say both parties have engaged in a “war of narratives,” seeking to deflect blame for atrocities and the worsening famine.
With the rainy season hampering road access and inflation driving food prices beyond the reach of ordinary Sudanese, aid workers fear the situation will deteriorate rapidly unless humanitarian corridors are secured.
“The people of Sudan cannot wait for political solutions while famine spreads,” said a senior humanitarian coordinator
Source: Reuters news
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
