Russian Cargo Plane Shot Down in Sudan: Tensions Rise as RSF Claims Responsibility
Staff Editor Russian Cargo Plane Reportedly Shot Down in Sudan’s Darfur Region
The Russian embassy in Sudan is investigating reports of a cargo plane with a Russian crew being shot down in the Darfur region of Sudan. The aircraft, identified as a Russian-made Ilyushin Il-76, was reportedly delivering equipment and medicine to the army-held city of el-Fasher when the incident occurred.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group engaged in a civil war with Sudan’s army, claims to have downed a Russian-made plane flown by the Egyptian military. The RSF accuses Egypt of bombing civilians, an allegation that Egypt firmly denies. Cairo has consistently maintained that it is not providing military support to Sudan’s army during the ongoing conflict.
According to the Sudan Tribune, all crew members, including three Sudanese and two Russians, were killed in the crash. The incident reportedly took place in the Malha area, near the Chad border, as the plane was en route to el-Fasher.
The RSF claims to have recovered the plane’s black box and seized documents related to the mission. Viral footage circulating online shows RSF soldiers displaying identification documents near the wreckage.
BBC Verify has identified documents related to one individual, including a Russian passport and South African driving licenses. Some of the recovered documents suggest the aircraft may have been linked to an airline previously associated with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, the UAE denies allegations of arming the RSF, despite the UN citing credible evidence to the contrary.
Speculations about the cause of the crash range from a technical fault to mistaken targeting. The Russian embassy in Khartoum is coordinating with the Sudanese military-led government to gather more information about the incident.
This event occurred against the backdrop of a devastating civil war that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the RSF. The conflict has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with estimates suggesting up to 150,000 people have been killed and over 10 million displaced since its onset.
Diplomatic efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between the rival forces have stalled, while fighting has escalated around Khartoum. The RSF largely controls the capital city, prompting the military to intensify airstrikes in Khartoum’s center and southern areas.
As investigations into the plane crash continue, the incident underscores the complex and volatile nature of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which continues to have far-reaching humanitarian and geopolitical implications for the region.
