In the heart of Sudan, a relentless and brutal conflict has raged for seven long months, with no signs of abating. What started as a dispute between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) back on April 15 has spiraled into a power struggle, inflicting untold suffering.
Eyewitnesses on the ground report that the RSF, over the past six months, has made significant advances and is striving to solidify its control over the capital, Khartoum. This conflict, triggered by tensions related to a planned transition to civilian rule, has not only engulfed Khartoum but has also incited ethnically driven attacks in the Darfur region.
Despite mediators’ attempts to negotiate a resolution, there is no clear victor in sight, and the war shows no signs of ending. More than 5.75 million people have been displaced, thousands have lost their lives, and major cities have been reduced to rubble.
The RSF rapidly seized control of the capital, and there are allegations of looting and home occupations. In response, the Sudanese army, maintaining its grip on its bases, has launched heavy airstrikes and artillery barrages.
The RSF’s latest move is toward Gezira state, a vital agricultural region and population center. Hundreds of thousands of people, along with governmental and humanitarian functions displaced from Khartoum, have sought refuge there.
Just last week, the RSF captured Ailafoun, a significant town on a route to Madani, leading to the displacement of thousands of residents who had to flee on foot.
“The attack was so fierce that the army soldiers ran out of ammunition and had to retreat to their base,” recounted Amna, one of the fleeing residents.
The RSF has continued its relentless assaults on Nyala and El Obeid, to the west of the capital, since the war’s outbreak.
The Sudanese army claims its soldiers, particularly special forces units, are mounting a vigorous defense against the RSF’s advances.
Within Khartoum, the RSF has launched attacks on various army bases, including the main army headquarters and the armoured corps base.
Across the Nile in Omdurman, reports suggest that the RSF is employing long-range artillery, previously beyond their reach, to target the vital Wadi Sayidna airforce base.
Tragically, during one of their campaigns, the RSF shelled a hospital operated by the medical aid agency MSF on October 9, resulting in the loss of two lives and sparking widespread condemnation.
Recent reports indicate that the RSF initiated another campaign against an army base south of Khartoum in the Jebel Awlia area, resulting in the death of 45 people this month. A lawyer’s group refrained from assigning blame.
This ongoing war has wreaked havoc beyond imagination, and as we tally the devastation, the grim reality is that an end remains elusive, leaving many in despair.
