In a troubling development, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces launched a drone attack on Port Sudan's military airport, escalating fears in a city that had remained relatively safe during the ongoing civil war in Sudan.
Drone Attack by Paramilitaries Marks Disturbing Escalation in Port Sudan
Drone Attack by Paramilitaries Marks Disturbing Escalation in Port Sudan
The Rapid Support Forces target a military airport, raising concerns for civilians amid ongoing civil conflict.
Article text:
The conflict in Sudan has taken another dark turn as the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) executed a drone strike on the Osman Digna Air Base in Port Sudan on Sunday. For the first time since the outbreak of civil war two years ago, RSF attacks have reached this coastal city, which serves as the de facto capital for the military-led government.
According to Sudanese army spokesperson Nabil Abdullah, the RSF utilized "suicide drones" in their assault, targeting not only the military base but also civilian structures, including a warehouse. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, although the army noted that the attack resulted in "limited damage." The RSF has yet to issue a statement regarding the incident.
The civil war that ignited in April 2023 arose from a bitter power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, sidelining the hopes for a transition to civilian rule. Current statistics indicate that around 150,000 lives have been lost due to the conflict, with estimates of twelve million individuals displaced. In fact, the United Nations has categorized the humanitarian situation in Sudan as the most severe worldwide, with over 30 million facing critical shortages of food and aid.
Prior to this drone attack, Port Sudan had largely evaded violence and had been seen as a refuge for numerous civilians escaping the war. After the military's loss of the capital, Khartoum, the city emerged as the center of governmental control under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. As a result of the ongoing unrest, UN agencies relocated to Port Sudan, further solidifying its status as a critical haven during this crisis.
Eyewitness accounts described an alarming scene as evacuation notifications were issued. Travellers at the airport quickly fled, with one individual reporting a swift evacuation away from the terminal just moments before the strikes occurred. Social media footage purportedly shows explosions and thick clouds of black smoke engulfing the area.
In the aftermath of the attack, the airport has been closed and all flights have been suspended, a government official disclosed to AFP news agency.
The two-year civil war has effectively shattered Sudan into competing territorial claims, with the RSF primarily operating in the west and south, while the SAF predominantly controls the eastern and northern regions, including strategic locations like Port Sudan.
This drone strike represents the latest in a series of previous attacks targeting both military and civilian assets under SAF jurisdiction. Just a day prior, a drone attack occurred in Kassala, near the eastern border, far removed from RSF’s known positions.
While the SAF has recently regained substantial areas, including the presidential palace in Khartoum, the potential for either faction to secure complete control of Sudan seems unlikely, according to analyses from the International Crisis Group.
This ongoing conflict, now deemed Sudan's most destructive civil war in recent history, has roots dating back over 70 years. Following a military coup in 2021, a governance council comprising generals has struggled under internal divisions, particularly between al-Burhan and Hemedti, the RSF leader, as they clashed over the future direction and unity of the Sudanese state.
With international negotiations striving to establish peace proving ineffective, tensions remain high, exacerbated by external support for both sides in the conflict, which involves an influx of arms into the region.
The conflict in Sudan has taken another dark turn as the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) executed a drone strike on the Osman Digna Air Base in Port Sudan on Sunday. For the first time since the outbreak of civil war two years ago, RSF attacks have reached this coastal city, which serves as the de facto capital for the military-led government.
According to Sudanese army spokesperson Nabil Abdullah, the RSF utilized "suicide drones" in their assault, targeting not only the military base but also civilian structures, including a warehouse. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, although the army noted that the attack resulted in "limited damage." The RSF has yet to issue a statement regarding the incident.
The civil war that ignited in April 2023 arose from a bitter power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, sidelining the hopes for a transition to civilian rule. Current statistics indicate that around 150,000 lives have been lost due to the conflict, with estimates of twelve million individuals displaced. In fact, the United Nations has categorized the humanitarian situation in Sudan as the most severe worldwide, with over 30 million facing critical shortages of food and aid.
Prior to this drone attack, Port Sudan had largely evaded violence and had been seen as a refuge for numerous civilians escaping the war. After the military's loss of the capital, Khartoum, the city emerged as the center of governmental control under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. As a result of the ongoing unrest, UN agencies relocated to Port Sudan, further solidifying its status as a critical haven during this crisis.
Eyewitness accounts described an alarming scene as evacuation notifications were issued. Travellers at the airport quickly fled, with one individual reporting a swift evacuation away from the terminal just moments before the strikes occurred. Social media footage purportedly shows explosions and thick clouds of black smoke engulfing the area.
In the aftermath of the attack, the airport has been closed and all flights have been suspended, a government official disclosed to AFP news agency.
The two-year civil war has effectively shattered Sudan into competing territorial claims, with the RSF primarily operating in the west and south, while the SAF predominantly controls the eastern and northern regions, including strategic locations like Port Sudan.
This drone strike represents the latest in a series of previous attacks targeting both military and civilian assets under SAF jurisdiction. Just a day prior, a drone attack occurred in Kassala, near the eastern border, far removed from RSF’s known positions.
While the SAF has recently regained substantial areas, including the presidential palace in Khartoum, the potential for either faction to secure complete control of Sudan seems unlikely, according to analyses from the International Crisis Group.
This ongoing conflict, now deemed Sudan's most destructive civil war in recent history, has roots dating back over 70 years. Following a military coup in 2021, a governance council comprising generals has struggled under internal divisions, particularly between al-Burhan and Hemedti, the RSF leader, as they clashed over the future direction and unity of the Sudanese state.
With international negotiations striving to establish peace proving ineffective, tensions remain high, exacerbated by external support for both sides in the conflict, which involves an influx of arms into the region.
