KHARTOUM: Sudan’s Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan was evacuated from a military base in the eastern region of the country on Wednesday following a deadly drone strike that targeted the base during a ceremony, AFP reported citing witnesses.
The attack has intensified the already dire situation in Sudan, where ongoing conflict between the army and paramilitary forces has caused widespread devastation.
According to AFP, the drone strike occurred at the Gibet base, located approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Port Sudan. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least five people. The military’s announcement confirmed the casualties but did not immediately provide details about the injured or the extent of damage to the base.
The strike interrupted a live broadcast of the ceremony attended by General Burhan. The broadcast was temporarily cut off for about 15 minutes, after which it resumed with reports of Burhan’s evacuation. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, have not claimed responsibility for the attack.
This incident marks the first attack on a military base in the country, which has become a critical location for the Sudanese army, the government, and the United Nations following the escalation of violence.
The RSF, which has gained control over significant parts of Sudan including most of Khartoum, central Al-Jazira state, and large areas in Darfur and Kordofan, continues to challenge the regular army’s hold on the country.
The conflict began in April last year, when hostilities erupted between the Sudanese army and the RSF. The war has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, displacing more than 11 million people and pushing Sudan toward famine.
The RSF has also reportedly besieged El-Fasher, North Darfur’s capital, cutting off essential supplies to hundreds of thousands of civilians.
Recent reports from local activist committees indicate that the RSF’s bombardment of El-Fasher has led to the deaths of 65 people, mostly children, between Saturday and Monday. Both the army and RSF have been accused of war crimes, including targeting civilians and obstructing humanitarian aid.
In response to the escalating violence, Sudan’s foreign ministry has expressed a desire for further discussions before accepting a US invitation for ceasefire talks scheduled for August in Geneva. Previous ceasefire negotiations have failed to achieve a lasting resolution to the conflict.
