People flee as smoke billows on the first day of the Eid al-Adha Muslim holiday in Wad Hamid, about 100 kilometers north of Sudan's capital, on June 28, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)
KHARTOUM / CAIRO – The Sudanese army on Sunday denied responsibility for the killing of 22 civilians in Omdurman city, west of the capital Khartoum, on Saturday.
Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, which left over 3,000 people killed and more than 6,000 others injured, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry
"The Air Force did not deal with any hostile targets in Omdurman yesterday (Saturday)," the statement said, refuting the claim by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that the army carried out an air strike that killed at least 22 civilians.
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It went on to say that "We have made it clear more than once that the militia used to bombard residential areas with artillery and missiles coincident with the flying of our planes in a bid to falsely accuse the armed forces of targeting citizens."
Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, which left over 3,000 people killed and more than 6,000 others injured, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry.
More than 2.8 million people have been forced into displacement, including 2.2 million internally displaced, since the conflict broke out in Sudan, according to UN estimates.
Meeting for neighboring countries
Egypt announced Sunday the plan to host a summit meeting for Sudan's neighboring countries on Thursday to find peaceful solutions to the crisis.
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Leaders attending the meeting would discuss the creation of effective mechanisms in the region and internationally for settlement of the crisis as well as its repercussions on Sudan's neighbors, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.
