Sudanese paramilitaries initiate a second round of drone assaults on Port Sudan, according to authorities.
Rewritten Article:
In a new turn of events, Port Sudan, the city serving as a sanctuary for displaced individuals and those fleeing the war's wreckage, has been struck. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched attacks in the early hours of Tuesday morning, according to military officials.
Sudan's government's power center has experienced two attacks in quick succession. However, there are no immediate reports of casualties or the extent of the damage caused. Two unnamed sources informed the Associated Press of the RSF's early-morning offensive, with online footage revealing billowing smoke clouds.
Information Minister Khalid Aleiser, on a visit to the southern portion of the port, condemned the United Arab Emirates (UAE), holding them responsible for arming the RSF. He asserted, "We will continue our legitimate battle."
The UAE's foreign ministry released a statement a day earlier, denouncing the assaults on critical infrastructure in Port Sudan and Kassal. These attacks were labeled as a "blatant violation of international humanitarian law." A UAE foreign ministry official firmly denied allegations of UAE involvement in Sudan's war.
Ahmed Soliman, a Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House's Africa Programme, described this wave of attacks on Port Sudan as a "new phase" in Sudan's civil war. He explained that while the army has made considerable progress on the battlefield, pushing the RSF out of central Sudan and regaining much of the capital, the RSF is stepping up air attacks and targeting previously secure areas to create chaos for civilians.
Soliman also noted that the attacks were an attempt to show that the army could not protect and offer respite from RSF attacks. "Without fuel, electricity - it's a highly insecure picture, which aims to make it impossible for the army to say [the situation] is returning to normal," he said.
Remarkably, this follows the United Nations' International Court of Justice dismissing Sudan's case accusing the UAE of breaching the Genocide Convention by allegedly arming and financing the RSF. Judges ruled they lacked jurisdiction to hear the case, as the UAE has a clause in its agreement that shields it from proceedings under that clause.
Tuesday's attack caused air travel disruptions, with three flights to Port Sudan canceled. Additionally, satellite images from Planet Labs PBC depict fuel tanks ablaze, southeast of downtown Port Sudan, on a farm belonging to the state-owned Sudan National Petroleum Corp. The RSF has not issued a statement concerning the attack.
Related:
- Fires Blaze in Port Sudan after Alleged RSF Drone Strike
- Sudan's RSF Kills More Than 30 People in Latest Attack in Darfur, Activists Say
- RSF Slaughters Over 30 Civilians in Darfur's Latest Assault, Activists Assert
- Sudan Conflict
- Strife
- Air Assault
Source Insight:
The current conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been ongoing since mid-2023, with significant shifts in control and territory. As of early 2025, the SAF has made substantial gains, particularly in recapturing key areas around Khartoum. This recapture marked a major victory for the SAF, enhancing its legitimacy as the sole national authority while crippling the RSF's strategic ambitions. In response to these losses, the RSF has launched counter-efforts, such as advancing in North Darfur and threatening SAF-controlled areas in northern Sudan. These actions seem aimed at boosting morale following significant setbacks in Khartoum.
The conflict stems from a power struggle between the SAF and the RSF, with both factions vying for control of Sudan. The RSF initially gained significant ground in Darfur and parts of Kordofan, but the SAF's multi-front counter-offensive in late 2024 turned the tide, leading to the current situation. The RSF's recent attacks on Port Sudan aim to create chaos and undermine the SAF's efforts to maintain control of the city and offer protection to civilians.
- The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have agreed to launch attacks in Port Sudan, as confirmed by military officials, marking a new phase in Sudan's civil war according to Ahmed Soliman, a Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House's Africa Programme.
- The power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF has been confirmed to be intensifying, with the RSF striking Port Sudan in a wave of attacks, as reported by two unnamed sources to the Associated Press.
- Information Minister Khalid Aleiser, during a visit to the southern portion of the port, has confirmed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to be responsible for arming the RSF, allegations which the UAE foreign ministry has fervently denied.
- In general-news and crime-and-justice, the wave of attacks on Port Sudan by the RSF has been confirmed to have caused air travel disruptions and damage to critical infrastructure, including fuel tanks belonging to the state-owned Sudan National Petroleum Corp, as depicted by satellite images from Planet Labs PBC.
