A senior figure in a Sudanese coalition that formed a government backed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was killed in a strike by the Sudanese army on his home in Nyala, South Darfur, late Tuesday, while Health Minister Alaaeldin Naqd and others survived.
Mohamed Hassan al-Taishi, prime minister of the “Taasis” government, said in a statement that an army drone targeted Osama Hassan, a member of the coalition’s leadership body, killing him instantly and seriously wounding four of his aides, two of them critically.
Al-Taishi strongly condemned the killing, describing it as “the beginning of a dangerous pattern of political assassinations targeting civilian and democratic leaders”.
He said targeting the home of a civilian political leader in a populated area constituted “a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law and moral norms” and undermined any real chance for a ceasefire or a peaceful settlement.
He called on the international community, rights groups and the United Nations to open “an independent, transparent and urgent international investigation” to establish the circumstances of the attack and hold those responsible accountable.
Major blow
The killing of Hassan in Nyala, a stronghold of the Taasis administration, is seen as one of the most significant blows dealt to the RSF, raising expectations the conflict could enter a new phase marked by the targeting of leaders on both sides.
Hassan headed the Democratic Alliance for Social Justice party and was considered a leading candidate for the youth and sports portfolio in the Taasis administration.
Pro-army media outlets reported his death shortly before it was officially confirmed by Taasis authorities.
RSF reaction
The presidential council of the Taasis government, headed by RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, known as Hemedti, also mourned Hassan.
In a statement posted on Facebook, it said he was targeted by a Turkish-made Akinci drone that struck his home.
The council described Hassan as “a prominent national figure who contributed effectively to the struggle and was a staunch defender of the causes of freedom and justice, and an example of steadfastness in principle”.
The Sudanese army rarely claims direct responsibility for strikes it carries out on cities in Darfur controlled by the RSF, while the group maintains strict silence regarding its losses.
Since the outbreak of war in April 2023, the Sudanese army and the RSF have exchanged near-daily drone attacks.
