Sudan. Paramilitary militias claim to have shot down a Russian Il-76 transport plane

The RSF, which is at war with the Sudanese army, announced that it shot down a “foreign military plane” that was supporting the Sudanese army.

The paramilitary group said the plane was dropping barrel bombs on civilians. “All foreign mercenaries on board the plane were eliminated during the operation,” the statement said.

Mobile phone footage posted on social media shows RSF fighters among the remains of the burning wreckage. The militants say they shot down the plane with a surface-to-air missile.

The recordings also show identity documents, most likely belonging to the people on board, including: Russian passport. According to other documents visible in the videos, the downed plane was a Russian Il-76.

Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began on April 15, 2023. While for the commanders of the SAF – Abdel Fattah Burhan – and the RSF – Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo – this conflict is a struggle for power, for supplying countries Sudan weapons are an opportunity to pursue one's own interests.

Russia is interested in Sudanese gold mines and the port on the Red Sea, Port Sudan, promised by Dagalo, where it intends to locate its naval base.

A base on the Red Sea, through which over 12% of world shipping, is also interested Iranwhich delivers its Mohajer-6 drones to Sudan.

Over 20,000 people have died in the war that has been going on for almost a year and a half. people, and according to the agency UN Refugee Affairs, more than seven million Sudanese have been internally displaced, another two million have found refuge in neighboring countries. In Sudan, once a food supplier for much of Africa, half of the population of more than 25 million struggles with hunger.