Fierce clashes engulf Omdurman as Sudanese Army and RSF collide
August 8, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Al-Nau Hospital in the Al-Thawra suburb of Omdurman has received casualties from clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the second consecutive day. The battles, concentrated in the old neighbourhoods of Omdurman, have prompted blood donations and makeshift burials in the area.
The Sudanese army has deployed specialized street warfare units in Khartoum state to counterattack against the RSF, aiming to reclaim control. The Special Operations Forces’ focus has been on Omdurman, where fierce battles erupted. The situation escalated, with wounded civilians flooding Al-Nau Hospital for treatment.
In response, activists dug numerous graves in Omdurman to lay to rest civilians killed during these clashes, which have been described as the most intense in the area since the mid-April conflict began. Urgent blood donations were called for by the Omdurman Emergency Room and the Resistance Committees of the Abu Rouf neighbourhood, where Al-Nau Hospital has been receiving injured individuals since the morning.
Amid the clashes, residents from affected areas like Abu Rouf and Wad Nubawi were forced to flee towards Al-Thawra suburb for safety. This displacement followed the fierce fighting near the Shambat Bridge.
Furthermore, Al-Abbasiya, Al-Arbaeen, and Al-Doha neighbourhoods in Omdurman also witnessed battles between the army and paramilitary forces on Tuesday morning.
The Sudanese Air Force joined the conflict by bombing RSF positions near key locations in Omdurman’s west, including the Libya Market, the Popular Market, and Al-Hilal Stadium.
Both sides bolstered their forces across different parts of Omdurman. The army established defensive positions at the Duma station in Wad Nubawi, while the RSF fighters secured areas around the Al-Azhari roundabout leading to Shambat Bridge.
In response to the clashes, the RSF claimed a new victory over the army, stating that they had killed 174 Sudanese soldiers, wounded over 300, and captured 83 prisoners of war. They asserted that they repelled attacks by army forces in various areas.
However, the Sudanese army’s spokesman countered these claims, emphasizing the significant losses inflicted on the RSF. The spokesperson stated that only four soldiers were killed. The army conducted comprehensive combing operations in Omdurman’s old neighbourhoods, capturing RSF Brigadier General Salah Hamdan while he was attempting to flee the battlefield.
(ST)