Khartoum, Sudan – (African Boulevard News) – A market attack in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, has left at least 17 people dead and 106 injured, according to officials. The attack was carried out on Thursday, 2nd June in the El-Beit market in the district of Khartoum North.
The Sudanese government has yet to identify the attackers. This latest outbreak of violence comes as Sudan is making tentative steps towards democratic transition following the ouster of long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
Eyewitnesses report that the attackers arrived on motorbikes and began firing indiscriminately at shoppers and stallholders. The market was crowded with people stocking up on goods ahead of the Eid al-Fitr festival, which marks the end of Ramadan.
The Sudanese Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok, has condemned the attack and ordered an immediate investigation into the matter. In a statement, he said, “We will not allow any attempts to disturb the security and stability of our country or to derail the path towards democratic transition.”
The United Nations and African Union have also issued statements condemning the attack and calling for an end to the violence in Sudan. The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and called on the Sudanese authorities to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice.
The attack is the latest in a string of violent incidents in Sudan over the past few years. The country has been wracked by conflict, particularly in the Darfur region, where rebels have been fighting government forces since 2003, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.
Experts say that the attack on the market is likely to raise concerns about the country’s security situation and may have an impact on Sudan’s economy as the market is a hub for trade in the country.
“This attack will have an adverse effect on the country’s economy, which is already struggling due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Ahmed Abushari, an economist in Khartoum.
The attack on the market has left many Sudanese people in shock and mourning. As the country continues its journey towards democratic transition, the government must take urgent steps to address the security situation and ensure that such attacks do not happen again in the future.
