Sudanese army reinforces north after paramilitary attack

December 22, 2024 (AL-DABBAH) – The Sudanese army sent reinforcements to the al-Tamtam area on the Northern Lifeline road on Sunday after an attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), witnesses said.

This marks the first attack of its kind to reach the Northern State since the assault on Merowe Airport in April. The RSF appears to be attempting to open new fighting fronts, as its partisans on social media repeat calls to attack the northern Sudan states.

The RSF attacked al-Tamtam, where they were met with resistance from a joint force of army troops and reservists, witnesses said. Five RSF fighters were killed in the clashes before the armed forces and their allies combed the area. The RSF force then retreated into the desert.

“The army sent reinforcements, including reservists, to al-Tamtam station on the Northern Lifeline road to prevent any RSF incursion into the Northern State,” one witness told Sudan Tribune.

The Northern Entity, a local political group, condemned the RSF attack on al-Tamtam, which is inhabited by the Hawawir tribe.

“The north is a red line, and it will be your end if you even think about approaching,” the group said in a statement.

Tensions between the army and the RSF peaked before the conflict outbreak when the RSF moved large forces to Merowe Airport in the Northern State on April 12, 2023, without responding to official withdrawal requests.

Three days after the fighting broke out, the RSF took control of Merowe Airport, but the army quickly recovered it after fierce battles.