RSF drone strike on Port Sudan signals conflict escalation
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have conducted their first attack on Port Sudan, employing drones to strike a military base. This event marks a new phase in the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
Key information
- RSF attacked Port Sudan using drones.
- The attack did not result in casualties but signifies a significant shift in the conflict.
- The conflict in Sudan has been ongoing since April 2023, claiming the lives of over 20,000 people.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out their first attack on Port Sudan, using drones to target a military base and other facilities near the airport. According to the Polish Press Agency, citing Reuters reports, this event marks a new phase in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which started in April 2023.
The attack on Port Sudan is the first such incident in this region, which had not been targeted by bombings until now. The Sudanese military spokesperson reported no casualties. RSF has yet to comment on the incident.
The drone attack on Port Sudan represents a major change in the conflict, which had previously concentrated mainly in the central and northern parts of the country. The eastern part of Sudan, where many internally displaced people have sought refuge, had thus far been free from such actions.
The conflict in Sudan
The war in Sudan erupted due to a dispute within an alliance of government forces (SAF) and RSF, which two years earlier had overthrown a Western-backed government. The main figures in the conflict are General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the RSF commander.
According to the UN and local authorities, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 20,000 people and forced 14 million residents to relocate. Experts estimate the death toll to be around 130,000. Sudan is currently the only country in the world experiencing famine.
