AFRICA/SUDAN - The plane that crashed in Darfur was operating on behalf of the Sudanese army

Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) - The plane that crashed on October 21 in Malha in North Darfur, possibly shot down by militiamen of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), was operating on behalf of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), according to journalistic research. Initially, it was believed that the cargo plane, an Il-76, belonged to a Kyrgyz company operating on behalf of the United Arab Emirates to supply RSF, which then shot down the plane by mistake (see Fides, 23/10/2024).
It has now emerged that the aircraft in question was sold by the Kyrgyz company to an Egyptian company earlier this year, misleading those who relied on the photos of the aircraft wreckage released by the Rapid Support Forces, which showed the aircraft's old initials (a sort of "registration mark" that all aircraft carry for identification): EX-76011. A statement from the Kyrgyz authorities has now clarified: "The IL-76TD aircraft with registration number EX-76011 was removed from the Civil Aircraft Register of the Kyrgyz Republic on January 12, 2024 and transferred to the register of the Republic of Sudan" and was allegedly sold to an Egyptian airline. It is now suspected that the cargo plane was parachuting to deliver supplies to the Sudanese army troops in the city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, which has been under siege by the Rapid Support Forces for months (see Fides 26/9/2024). (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 28/10/2024)

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