Sudan undergoes complete communication blackout following drone strikes in Port Sudan; tensions escalate with the UAE over alleged weapons supply to RSF militia.
Fresh Perspective on the Chaos in Port Sudan
The city of Port Sudan is currently under siege, as the clash between Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rages on for a third day. This once tranquil city has been engulfed in flames, with the air filled with the deafening sound of explosions and thick plumes of smoke billowing from its heart.
Tuesday saw darkness descend upon Port Sudan as a result of drone attacks on the city's main power substation, causing a complete blackout. adding to the already dire situation.
Reports suggest that the RSF launched drone strikes on multiple locations, including a fuel depot, the Port Sudan International Airport, a power station, and a hotel. Residents claim that these attacks targeted the city's infrastructure yet again.
The hotel that reportedly bore the brunt of the attacks is located near government buildings, including the Presidential Guest House, where key military officials hold meetings and run their operations. As a result, civilians have been forced to evacuate both the airport and the hotel, causing panic among them as they search for safer havens.
Al Jazeera's Hiba Morgan stated that up until last week, Sudan's army had been gaining the upper hand and controlling much of Khartoum and large swathes of the country. However, recent RSF attacks on logistical and supply hubs under the control of Sudan's army have been an attempt to counterbalance the situation and minimize the risk of attacks in areas RSF controls in western Sudan.
The RSF has remained tight-lipped about the drone attacks on Port Sudan. Yet, they have reiterated their allegations that the army is being supported by Iran and accused it of targeting civilian infrastructure and state institutions in an attempt to maintain power.
The conflict between Sudan's army and RSF began in April 2024, triggered by a dispute over the transition to a civilian government. This power struggle has consequently led to the displacement of over 12 million people in Sudan and pushed half the population into acute hunger, according to the UN.
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Bonus Reading
- UN experts continue to investigate allegations of external support for the RSF.
- Egyptian and Saudi Arabia have expressed concern about the situation and called for an immediate resolution.
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been accused of supplying weapons to the RSF, resulting in Sudan's army-aligned government severing diplomatic ties with the UAE. The UAE denies these claims.
- The International Court of Justice cannot rule on the genocide allegations against the UAE due to lack of jurisdiction.
- The breaking news from Port Sudan indicates that the conflict between Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has entered its third day, with attacks fueling the chaos and violence.
- The city's infrastructure, including a power substation, fuel depot, airport, and hotel, has been targeted in these attacks, causing disruption and fear among the residents.
- The alleged drone attacks by the RSF on key facilities in Port Sudan are likely to have exacerbated the conflict, as the city's power outage adds to the already dire situation.
- The RSF's silence on these attacks raises questions and adds to the general news and politics surrounding the war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation aspects of this crisis.
- Meanwhile, reports suggest that the RSF has been accusing Sudan's army of receiving support from Iran and targeting civilian infrastructure and state institutions as a means of maintaining power, raising concerns about crime-and-justice issues in the region.
- As the conflict in Sudan continues, the displacement of millions and the push of half the population into acute hunger serve as a grim reminder of the wide-ranging implications and the urgent need for a resolution.
