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Activists: At Least 32 Killed in Sudanese Army Strikes

A man walks past a devastated a market area in al-Fasher, the capital of Sudan's North Darfur state, on September 1, 2023. (Photo by AFP)
A man walks past a devastated a market area in al-Fasher, the capital of Sudan's North Darfur state, on September 1, 2023. (Photo by AFP)
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Activists: At Least 32 Killed in Sudanese Army Strikes

A man walks past a devastated a market area in al-Fasher, the capital of Sudan's North Darfur state, on September 1, 2023. (Photo by AFP)
A man walks past a devastated a market area in al-Fasher, the capital of Sudan's North Darfur state, on September 1, 2023. (Photo by AFP)

At least 32 civilians have been killed and dozens injured in artillery attacks by the Sudanese army on a town in Omdurman, one of the highest tolls from a single day of fighting since war broke out in April, the activist group Emergency Lawyers said on Wednesday.

Rights activists and residents say the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that are fighting for control of the country have fired missiles into populated areas, incurring hundreds of civilian casualties in the capital Khartoum, and other cities, according to Reuters.

While the RSF holds most of the ground in Khartoum and the cities of Omdurman and Bahri that make up the wider capital, the army has the edge in heavier artillery and aircraft.

The strike took place in the Ombada neighborhood in western Omdurman, the statement released on Wednesday said, a neighborhood that has seen several deadly strikes.

Earlier this week, military sources said the army had deployed large numbers of ground troops in Omdurman and was preparing for a large operation to attempt to cut off the RSF's main supply route into the capital from the Darfur region.

Local volunteers reported that 19 people had been killed in army strikes on Ombada on Sunday. Residents say large numbers fled the Ombada neighborhood on Wednesday.

The RSF has also been accused by activists and residents of damaging homes by firing anti-aircraft missiles and other artillery, as well as looting and occupying civilian neighborhoods.

"The use of heavy and light artillery in areas packed with civilians is a war crime ... and reflects a disregard for their lives," the Emergency Lawyers, who are pro-democracy legal activists, said.

They said the army and RSF would be brought to justice.

The factions, which fell out over internationally-backed plans to integrate their forces during a transition to democracy, have denied responsibility for strikes that have killed civilians.

The United States on Wednesday sanctioned the deputy head of the RSF for involvement in human rights abuses by his troops and had previously sanctioned companies linked to both sides.

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Syrian Caretaker Government to Hike Public Sector Salaries by 400% Next Month

Graffiti of the Syrian revolution flag is painted on a mosaic of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria January 2, 2025. (Reuters)
Graffiti of the Syrian revolution flag is painted on a mosaic of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria January 2, 2025. (Reuters)
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Syrian Caretaker Government to Hike Public Sector Salaries by 400% Next Month

Graffiti of the Syrian revolution flag is painted on a mosaic of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria January 2, 2025. (Reuters)
Graffiti of the Syrian revolution flag is painted on a mosaic of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria January 2, 2025. (Reuters)

Syria's finance minister said on Sunday the government would hike salaries for many public sector employees by 400% next month after completing an administrative restructuring of ministries to boost efficiency and accountability.

The increase, estimated to cost 1.65 trillion Syrian pounds, or about $127 million at current rates, will be financed by existing state resources plus a combination of regional aid, new investments, and efforts to unfreeze Syrian assets held abroad.

"(This is) the first step towards an emergency solution to the economic reality in the country," Mohammed Abazeed, the finance minister in Syria's caretaker government, told Reuters, adding that this month's wages for public sector staff would be paid out this week.

These measures are part of a broader strategy by Syria's new caretaker government to stabilize the country's economy following 13 years of conflict and sanctions.

Salaries of Syria's public sector employees under toppled President Bashar al-Assad's regime were around $25 a month, putting them below the poverty line, along with the majority of the country's population, Abazeed said.

The hike would follow a comprehensive evaluation of up to 1.3 million registered public sector employees to remove fictitious employees from the payroll and would affect those with sufficient expertise, academic qualifications, and the necessary skills for reconstruction.

Syria's state treasury is facing liquidity challenges emerging from a war. The majority of money available in the central bank is Syrian currency, which has lost much of its value. However, the new government was promised assistance from regional and Arab countries, the minister said.

"The launch of investments in the country in the near future will also benefit the state treasury and allow us to finance this salary increase," he said, adding the central bank currently has sufficient funds to finance the next few months.

The government expects to retrieve up to $400 million in frozen Syrian assets abroad, which could co-finance the initial government expenses.

Syria's caretaker government is also discussing exempting taxpayers, as much as possible, from penalties and interest and working on overhauling the tax system within the next three months to achieve tax justice for all taxpayers, with a first draft expected within four months.

"By the end of this year, we expect having a well-designed tax system that takes the interests of all taxpayers into account," he added.