Sudan has faced significant instability since the ousting of dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019, leading to a military coup in 2021 and ongoing violence between rival military factions.

The conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has escalated since April 2023, following the coup that disrupted Sudan's transition to democracy.

The ongoing war has resulted in over 24,000 deaths, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project, as the Sudanese army intensifies its offensive against the RSF.

The aircraft was identified as an Ilyushin Il-76 operated by New Way Cargo of Kyrgyzstan, which has been linked to arms transfers to the RSF.

Human rights groups and the United Nations have reported renewed attacks by the RSF and allied militias against ethnic African groups during the current conflict.

Recently, the RSF claimed to have shot down a cargo jet in Darfur, alleging it was a foreign warplane assisting the Sudanese military and dropping bombs on civilians, though no evidence was provided.

Russia's Embassy in Khartoum confirmed that its diplomats are investigating the incident, suggesting that Russians may have been on board the aircraft.

The aircraft's connection to arms supply efforts by the UAE to the RSF has been reported, a claim the UAE denies despite evidence.

The RSF stated that all foreign mercenaries aboard the aircraft were killed in the operation.

Mobile phone footage from the crash site shows debris and RSF fighters displaying identity documents recovered from the wreckage.

UN experts have deemed allegations of the UAE arming the RSF as credible.

The UAE has been accused of using Aéroport International Maréchal Idriss Deby in Chad as a waypoint for weapons deliveries, contradicting claims of humanitarian operations.