Abdel Fattah al-Burhan orders probe into airstrike that killed 72

Sudan’s de facto leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has ordered a formal investigation into a devastating airstrike that killed at least 72 people in a gold mining region near the Egyptian border. The strike, which occurred in the Jabal al-Uqaydat area, has drawn significant attention due to the high casualty count and the sensitive location of the incident. This move comes as the nation continues to be gripped by a brutal internal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The attack specifically targeted a gold mining site, a sector that remains a critical economic lifeline but also a source of intense contention in the war-torn country. Human rights monitoring groups, including the Emergency Lawyers, have attributed the strike to Egyptian military forces. These groups, which actively document abuses and civilian casualties during the ongoing civil war, claim the air raid was conducted by Egyptian aircraft, though official Cairo has frequently denied direct military intervention in the Sudanese conflict.

The investigation ordered by al-Burhan highlights the increasing complexities of Sudan's border security and its fragile relationships with regional neighbors. As the conflict between the regular army and the RSF enters a more volatile phase, the alleged involvement of external actors remains a point of intense international scrutiny. The outcome of this probe is expected to address not only the immediate loss of life but also the broader allegations of foreign military incursions on Sudanese soil, which could further complicate diplomatic efforts to resolve the humanitarian crisis.