Sudan’s military rivals escalate clashes in Omdurman
November 8, 2023 (OMDURMAN) – Fierce clashes erupted between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Wednesday in Khartoum’s twin city, Omdurman, marking a dramatic escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two conflicting parties.
The fighting involved military aviation, artillery shelling, and heavy ground combat, engulfing several neighbourhoods in the densely populated city.
According to local sources, the Sudanese army deployed substantial military units into Omdurman’s neighbourhoods, targeting areas controlled by the RSF, including the Popular Market and the Um Badda suburb in western Omdurman.
These areas have borne the brunt of the ongoing conflict, with the sounds of heavy and light weapons echoing through the streets and plumes of smoke rising from the Sudanese Air Force’s airstrikes on RSF positions.
The intense battles, punctuated by intermittent lulls, continued until sunset, with warplanes and heavy gunfire dominating the scene. Meanwhile, the RSF’s artillery retaliated, bombing the Sudanese army’s military zone in northern Omdurman. Several shells also landed in the Al-Waha and Al-Thawra neighbourhoods, causing further damage and casualties.
Medical sources at Al-Nao Hospital in Omdurman confirmed receiving both casualties and fatalities amid urgent calls for blood donations. The ongoing conflict has taken a heavy toll on civilians, with many trapped amidst the crossfire and limited access to essential services.
In the capital city of Khartoum, Sudanese army drones launched airstrikes on RSF positions on Airport Street and the Mujahideen neighbourhood, shrouding several areas in clouds of smoke.
Despite ongoing mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia and the United States, the two sides have so far failed to reach a ceasefire agreement. The most recent round of talks, which concluded on Tuesday, resulted only in a commitment to allow humanitarian access and implement confidence-building measures.
The simmering tensions between the Sudanese army and the RSF erupted into open conflict in mid-April in Khartoum, swiftly spreading to several states in Darfur and Kordofan.
(ST)