The Russian embassy in Sudan said it was investigating reports that a cargo plane carrying a Russian crew was shot down in Darfur, a key battleground in the civil war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Military sources told Sudanese media that the aircraft, identified as a Russian-made Lyushin Il-76, was tasked with delivering equipment and medicine to the army-controlled city of El Fasher.
On Monday, Médecins Sans Frontières said it had downed a Russian-made plane flown by the Egyptian military and accused it of bombing civilians, although it was identified as an Antonov aircraft.
Egypt denies accusations that it provided military support to Sudanese forces during the 18-month conflict.
A vicious power struggle between the army and Médecins Sans Frontières began in April 2023, resulting in what the United Nations calls one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
As many as 150,000 people are estimated to have been killed since the war began last year, based on comments in May by Tom Perriello, the U.S. special envoy for Sudan.
The United Nations estimates it has also forced more than 10 million people, about a fifth of the population, from their homes.
Details about the crash and its mission were unclear.
The Russian Embassy in the capital Khartoum said it was coordinating with Sudan’s military-led government to gather more information about the crash and those on board.
According to the Sudanese Tribune news website, all crew members – including three Sudanese nationals and two Russians – died in the accident.
The report quoted military sources as saying the plane crashed on its way to the besieged city of El Fasher in the Maleha region near the Chadian border. This has not been independently verified.
El Fasher is the only city in West Darfur still under army control and has been under attack by SSF since April.
Médecins Sans Frontières said it was in possession of the plane’s black boxes and had seized documents related to the plane and its mission.
Viral footage of the alleged crash site shows Médecins Sans Frontières soldiers holding what appears to be identification documents near the wreckage.
According to BBC Verify, the documents – including a Russian passport, a work ID card from Kyrgyzstan’s Manas Airport and two South African driving licenses (with different validity periods) – all relate to a single person.
Preliminary research suggests he may have graduated from a Russian military academy and may have lived in South Africa.
A video released by Doctors Without Borders also shows a fighter jet holding a 50 ruble ($0.50; £0.40) Russian note, but the way it was filmed makes it difficult to conclude that it was filmed near the crash site.
Some reports said the crash may have been caused by a technical fault, but both the Army and Médecins Sans Frontières said the plane was shot down.
Others suggested it may have been targeted in error.
This is because some documents seen in the circulated video footage indicate that the aircraft belongs to an airline previously linked to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Middle Eastern country denies accusations that it has been supplying weapons to forces without borders – although the United Nations says there is credible evidence.
New diplomatic attempts to negotiate a cessation of hostilities between Sudan’s rival forces have failed to make progress.
Fierce fighting has recently escalated around Khartoum, which is largely controlled by Forces Without Borders, with the military stepping up airstrikes in the city center and southern areas.
In Wad Madani, an Médecins Sans Frontières-controlled city south of Khartoum in Gezira state, local activists said more than 50 people had been killed in multiple attacks since Sunday.
The city’s “Resistance Committee”, made up of volunteers trying to provide aid to people caught up in the conflict, said a military airstrike on a mosque on Sunday killed more than 30 people.
The report said the attack took place after evening prayers and accused the army of using barrel bombs – the use of which is banned in densely populated civilian areas under international conventions – and that rescuers were unable to identify more than half of the dead because their bodies were mangled. Burnt and dismembered.
The attacks follow the recent defection of MSF’s top commander in Gezira state to the army.
Additional reporting by Peter Mwai of BBC verify.
