KHARTOUM: The Sudanese capital of Khartoum experienced intense fighting on Tuesday, just a day before the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, as paramilitary forces seized the city’s main police base. The conflict in Sudan between the army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has escalated and is now focused around military bases.
Meanwhile, the situation in Sudan’s western region of Darfur has reached “alarming levels,” according to a warning issued by the United Nations. The conflict has been ongoing since April 15, with the RSF establishing bases in residential neighborhoods of the capital, while the army has struggled to gain ground despite its air superiority.
Millions of People Trapped in Sudan Crossfire
As the RSF continues its efforts to seize control of Khartoum, millions of people find themselves trapped in the crossfire, enduring oppressive heat without access to electricity or water. The situation has left them unable to celebrate Eid al-Adha, a typically joyous occasion in Sudan, as they face dire circumstances and limited resources.
Late on Sunday, the RSF announced the seizure of the headquarters of the paramilitary Central Reserve police, located on the southern outskirts of Khartoum. This police force had been sanctioned by Washington last year for its involvement in human rights abuses. Witnesses reported that on Tuesday, the RSF launched attacks on army bases in various parts of central, northern, and southern Khartoum.
Mawaheb Omar, a resident stuck at home with her four children, expressed her expectation that Eid celebrations would be “miserable and tasteless” this year, as the ongoing conflict has severely impacted their ability to even purchase essential items like mutton.
