DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Recent satellite imagery indicates that significant fighting around Sudan’s largest oil refinery has resulted in the facility catching fire, with dense, black smoke billowing over the capital city. The refinery, located approximately 60 kilometers north of Khartoum, has become a critical battleground in the ongoing conflict between the military forces led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and the rebel group Rapid Support Force (RSF).
Reports indicate that Burhan’s forces have claimed control of the refinery, which is primarily owned by the Sudanese government and China National Petroleum Corp. The facility has long been a strategic target for the military amid the ongoing civil conflict, with Burhan captured on video celebrating the takeover alongside a crowd of supporters. Despite various international mediation efforts aimed at resolving the situation, including allegations from the U.S. that the RSF has committed genocide, the violent clashes continue unabated.
Recent satellite imagery has revealed extensive fires at the al-Jaili refinery, with reports stating that the RSF had previously claimed control of the location and fortified it with landmines. The refinery, which has a capacity of processing 100,000 barrels of oil daily, had managed to remain largely unharmed until an attack occurred on Thursday, igniting multiple fires throughout the complex.
Images obtained from Planet Labs PBC illustrated the devastation across the facility, showing flames and smoke rising into the sky. The resultant smoke has raised health concerns, particularly relating to respiratory issues and cancer risk for those in the surrounding areas, especially in Khartoum.
The Sudanese military has accused the RSF of deliberately instigating the fires at the refinery, describing the act as a desperate attempt to undermine the country’s infrastructure. Their statement condemned the RSF and underscored the military’s resolve to combat the group throughout Sudan.
Conversely, the RSF claimed that the Sudanese military targeted the refinery with airstrikes using “barrel bombs,” which have been alleged to drop from aging commercial cargo planes. Both factions have thus far refrained from presenting substantial evidence to support these accusations.
Amidst these claims, videos surfaced showing Burhan’s forces asserting their presence within the refinery’s premises while gunfire could be heard in the vicinity. A military spokesperson confirmed to various outlets that control of the refinery had been secured, although the RSF did not immediately respond to this assertion. In related claims, the Sudanese military asserted they had broken a prolonged siege on the Signal Corps headquarters, while the RSF countered by stating they were tightening their hold on the area.
China, a major trading partner with Sudan prior to the outbreak of war, has not publicly acknowledged the situation regarding the refinery and did not respond to inquiries regarding the ongoing conflict. China had positioned itself in Sudan’s oil sector following the exit of Chevron in 1992, and following South Sudan’s secession in 2011, which took with it the majority of Sudan’s oil resources.
The United Nations Secretary-General has expressed deep concern over the escalation of violence in Sudan, particularly emphasizing the implications of the oil refinery attack on both the economy and environment of the region. There are fears that the loss of the refinery would lead to severe economic repercussions for both Sudan and South Sudan, as local populations would be forced to rely on more costly fuel imports in the absence of the facility.
As the conflict persists, analysts warn that established norms against damaging crucial infrastructure are eroding, raising the specter of long-term disruptions to Sudan’s refining capabilities.
Sudan has faced ongoing turmoil since a popular uprising led to the ousting of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir in 2019. A short-lived democratic transition faltered in 2021 when Burhan aligned with RSF leader Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo to stage a military coup. Al-Bashir is currently facing genocide charges at the International Criminal Court, stemming from past violent campaigns in the Darfur region, and rights organizations have raised alarms about current atrocities perpetrated by the RSF against ethnic African groups.
In the United States, sanctions were imposed on Burhan for his forces’ violent actions against civilians and for denying humanitarian assistance. The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese military, which began in April 2023, has led to catastrophic humanitarian outcomes, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions. Desperate conditions have emerged, with some families resorting to extreme measures for survival as famine spreads across various regions of the nation.
