Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Khartoum Rocked by Fresh Bombardments, Explosions Near Major Fuel Depots


Fri 16 Jun 2023 | 09:07 AM
By Ahmad El-Assasy

Renowned journalist and political analyst Ashraf Abdul Aziz reported that Sudanese capital, Khartoum, experienced Sudanese Air Force activity on Thursday morning, amidst speculation of bombings aimed at Rapid Support Forces' strongholds.

Abdul Aziz detailed to Radio Dabanga that conflicts erupted in the Engineers area of Omdurman, which led to one civilian casualty in the Mansoura region and injured seven others on Wednesday. Clashes also took place in the Sixtieth Street and regions of Bahri, with air raids targeting areas controlled by Rapid Support Forces, particularly in the eastern side of Kober Al Halfaya.

Abdul Aziz pointed out rumors of conflicts in the Armored Tree area, stressing that confrontations dominated the scene. He drew attention to the severe medicine shortage in Khartoum and food supply issues.

The analyst highlighted the desperate attempts to prevent a meeting between Burhan and Hemedti by supporters of the previous regime who refuse any meeting between them according to the IGAD proposal. There is also a group of Hemedti supporters who believe in his military progress. He urged more pressure to organize this meeting, which may yield better results for the humanitarian crisis faced by Sudanese citizens.

Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that the military bombed Rapid Support Forces' strongholds in Khartoum Bahri. The army's fighter jets continued to patrol Khartoum's skies as anti-aircraft weaponry was heard in South Omdurman, and the central and western regions of Khartoum.

The correspondent further reported renewed smoke billowing from the vicinity of major fuel depots south of Khartoum. Fires had erupted around these depots last week following clashes between the army and Rapid Support Forces near the Yarmouk Defense Equipment Factory.

In related developments, the Sudanese army launched a raiding campaign in several Khartoum neighborhoods to hunt down Rapid Support Forces members hiding in the Eastern Nile area.

Mohammed Ibrahim, a Cairo News channel correspondent in Khartoum, reported that the Sudanese armed forces have adopted a strategy of combing and raiding Rapid Support Forces' locations. The forces aim to target the strongholds of the few who haven't responded to repeated calls to lay down their weapons and join the national army.

Ibrahim expects the capital Khartoum to be devoid of any rebellious elements soon, due to the intense attacks and the siege imposed by the Sudanese army.

The correspondent reported heightened clashes in the city of Genaina in West Darfur after the assassination of West Darfur Governor, Khames Abdullah Abkar, by the Rapid Support Forces. This event led to a large number of citizens fleeing the city to Chad, escaping the battle's chaos after life in Genaina came to a halt.

The correspondent cited the Sudan Doctors' Syndicate, which described the situation in Genaina city as catastrophic and terrible after the fall of many victims due to the clashes.

The correspondent added that the Sudanese armed forces have consolidated control over the Nyala area and North Kordofan state after fierce battles with the Rapid Support Forces.

Since April 15, conflicts have broken out in Sudan between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. Calls for de-escalation and a return to negotiation tables have been made to save the lives of Sudanese citizens.