In a grim turn of events, a landmine detonated on a bus in northern Sudan, resulting in the tragic loss of 10 civilian lives, as reported by a medical source on Sunday.
This incident marks a distressing development in the country’s ongoing conflict, with the regular army facing off against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the conflict erupted in April.
The clashes have left thousands dead and millions displaced.
According to a source from a hospital in Shendi city, located in the River Nile state, the explosion has occurred as the bus was transporting passengers from eastern Al-Jazira state to Shendi, which is 180 kilometers (112 miles) from Khartoum.
This incident is believed to be the first landmine blast during the war between Sudan’s rival generals, namely army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
So far, neither side has officially commented on the explosion.
After months of a relative stalemate between the Sudan army and the RSF, the latter has managed to expand its territory throughout the country, particularly towards the east.
Despite this, the army has maintained control in the eastern regions.
The RSF now exerts influence over nearly all of the vast western region of Darfur, the streets of the capital, and has expanded its presence further south, north, and east.