Violent clashes erupt in central Sudan as RSF attack Al-Jazirah State
December 15, 2023 (WAD MADANI) – The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Sudanese paramilitary group, initiated a significant offensive on the outskirts of Wad Madani, the capital of Al-Jazirah State, on Friday morning.
The attack triggered intense confrontations with the Sudanese army, which deployed substantial firepower to thwart the RSF advance.
The conflict unfolded a mere 15 kilometres from Wad Madani, a pivotal city in central Sudan with a population exceeding 1.5 million. Witnesses reported explosions and observed dense smoke billowing from the area.
The RSF, reportedly comprising hundreds of armoured vehicles and armed personnel, infiltrated Al-Jazirah State from Eastern Nile in Khartoum State, targeting areas east of Wad Madani, including Al-Alila, Al-Sharafa, and Abu Haraz.
The military responded promptly, sealing the Hantoub Bridge leading to Wad Madani and stationing troops on both sides. Residents of the Al-Dabbaga neighbourhood, closest to the bridge, were evacuated with urgency and advised to seek safety.
Fighter jets and reconnaissance planes circled the city, with the unmistakable sound of anti-aircraft fire resonating through the air. The clashes induced panic among Wad Madani’s residents, prompting many to abandon their homes.
Eyewitnesses described the ferocity of the fighting, recounting military aircraft heavily targeting RSF gatherings near Kiran and Um Shanq. Explosions rocked the Al-Alila oil depot, the primary fuel storage in Al-Jazirah State.
Traders in Wad Madani’s primary market closed their shops as clashes intensified, while owners of substantial businesses relocated their goods to safer areas. The city, hosting displaced civilians from Khartoum since the April 15 conflict between the army and RSF, now faced additional displacement due to the latest clashes.
The attack on Wad Madani coincides with the army’s recent efforts to disrupt RSF supplies in Khartoum, Khartoum Bahri, and the Eastern Nile.
On Thursday, RSF forces in Jabal Aulia raided Abu Quta, northwest of Al-Jazira State, looting the main market and government buildings before withdrawing.
(ST)