Sudan’s War Escalates: RSF shells Omdurman, battles rage in Sennar, Gedaref

August 30, 2024 (OMDURMAN/ AL-DINDER/ GEDAREF) – The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensified their bombardment of Omdurman on Friday, using heavy artillery to target several areas, as fierce fighting between the paramilitary group and the Sudanese army raged in the states of Sennar and Gedaref.

RSF artillery based in Khartoum Bahri pounded the Karari district of Omdurman, expanding the shelling to encompass the city’s northern outskirts. Local sources informed Sudan Tribune that the attacks resulted in the tragic death of a woman and the injury of a child.

In response, the Sudanese army retaliated with concentrated artillery fire from their positions north of Omdurman, targeting RSF strongholds in Khartoum, Khartoum Bahri, and the western and southern sectors of Omdurman.

Concurrently, the RSF utilized their positions in Khartoum and Khartoum Bahri to shell several historic neighbourhoods in Omdurman and the Al-Thawra suburb within the Karari locality, situated north of Omdurman.

Government officials in Khartoum state expressed their growing concern to Sudan Tribune about the RSF’s deliberate targeting of residential areas in Omdurman, highlighting a marked increase in such attacks over the past two months.

The state government, operating from the Karari locality, stated on Friday denouncing what it termed the RSF’s “deliberate shelling” of residential neighbourhoods in Karari. It detailed how the RSF targeted neighbourhoods 9, 13, 23, and 24 in the Al-Thawra suburb with approximately 10 artillery shells, in addition to strikes on the northern countryside of Omdurman, affecting Al-Jazirah Islang and Al-Nuba.

Sennar Front

In the southeastern state of Sennar, the RSF claimed in a statement on Friday to have retaken control of the Bunzuqa area, part of the Al-Suki locality on the eastern bank of the Nile. They further asserted their readiness to advance towards the army’s positions within the state.

Earlier in the week, Sudanese army soldiers released footage showcasing their control of Bunzuqa following clashes that resulted in the deaths of several RSF fighters, the seizure of weapons, and the destruction of combat vehicles. The army also reported gains in the Sennar region, including the capture of the villages of Jalqani and Al-Lukundi.

Conversely, the RSF disseminated videos depicting the Sudanese air force targeting the city of Al-Dinder in Sennar state. The RSF claimed that these strikes led to civilian casualties, including women and children, and the destruction of numerous homes, as evidenced by the images they released.

The RSF had previously seized control of Sinjah, the capital of Sennar state, before expanding their control to other localities within the state in July. However, the Sudanese army still maintains control over the city of Sennar, the second-largest city in the state.

Gedaref Front

In the eastern state of Gedaref, military sources informed Sudan Tribune that the army and its allied forces conducted extensive military operations and sweeps in the Al-Faw axis on Friday, involving all combat units.

These sources indicated that the army successfully repelled the RSF, advanced their positions, and secured control of the Wad Fiqisha area. They further detailed a successful ambush on an RSF stronghold, enabling the army to progress approximately 25 kilometres and capture 17 RSF prisoners along with a truck laden with supplies.

Footage emerged of captured RSF fighters in the Al-Faw axis, blindfolded and with their hands bound.

In North Darfur state, local sources reported that the army’s air force conducted a series of airstrikes on Friday morning, targeting RSF positions north and east of El Fasher, the state capital.

Simultaneously, the RSF retaliated by shelling the army and allied armed movement positions south of the city from their eastern positions.

These developments follow a warning from the US special envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello, who stated that the RSF was amassing forces for another assault on El Fasher.

Also, he said that their immediate goal is to stop RSF sporadic shelling of residential areas.