In a recent development, Sudan’s paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), executed a drone assault on a military airbase and civilian structures located in Port Sudan, as announced by the country’s military authorities. This strike is reportedly the first by the RSF on this coastal city, which has been functioning as the temporary government center since hostilities ensued between the military and the RSF over two years ago.
Brigadier General Nabil Abdullah, who serves as a spokesperson for the Sudanese military, revealed that the drones targeted an ammunition depot within the Osman Digna airbase, resulting in explosions. Additionally, other structures such as a cargo warehouse and various civilian installations were struck, he noted in an official statement. Videos posted online depicted dense smoke clouds billowing over the airbase.
As a consequence of the attack, air traffic experienced temporary disruptions at Port Sudan’s airport, as per the civil aviation authority of the nation. This airport has been Sudan’s principal point of entry ever since the RSF took over the Khartoum international airport at the onset of the conflict. Although the military succeeded in reclaiming the Khartoum airport earlier this year, the facility remains inoperative.
The RSF has not yet issued any statements regarding the recent drone attack. However, the group has noticeably intensified its drone offensives, particularly targeting civilian infrastructure in regions controlled by the military. Last month, the RSF targeted a significant power station in Atbara, a railway hub north of Khartoum.
These raids follow the military’s successful recapture of Khartoum earlier this year, which subsequently forced the RSF to fall back to their stronghold in the western Darfur region. While consolidating control over the capital, the RSF made territorial gains in peripheral areas, securing Sudan’s most extensive displacement camp in North Darfur, and capturing a vital town in West Kordofan province.
Reports from activists have surfaced, accusing the RSF of severe human rights violations, including killings and sexual violence, in these territories, where fatalities have been extensive. The ongoing conflict in Sudan erupted on April 15, 2023, following longstanding tensions between the nation’s military and the RSF that escalated to widespread warfare.
Since the outbreak of hostilities, casualty figures have exceeded 24,000, though actual counts may be significantly higher. Moreover, the conflict has displaced approximately 13 million inhabitants, with 4 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries, and has precipitated famine in parts of Sudan. The violence has been characterized by heinous acts, including widespread rape and ethnically targeted killings, which have been identified as war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly in the Darfur region, as reported by the United Nations and international human rights watchdogs.