A major power station in the eastern Sudanese city of Port Sudan has been struck by drones, leading to a “complete power outage,” according to the country’s electricity provider, speaking to the BBC.
The attack on Tuesday is the latest in a series targeting the strategic city, as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) escalate their operations in the area. This weekend saw the first RSF strikes on Port Sudan, which had previously been largely untouched by Sudan’s ongoing two-year conflict.
Witnesses reported multiple drone strikes early on Tuesday. One drone hit the civilian section of Port Sudan’s international airport, resulting in the cancellation of flights. Another struck an army base in the city centre, while a third hit a fuel depot near the port.
A hotel located close to the residence of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan was also reportedly hit, although no casualties have been reported.
Sudan’s Information Minister, Khalid Aleiser, visited the southern part of the port, where fuel tanks were allegedly struck. He accused the United Arab Emirates of arming the RSF, a claim vehemently denied by the UAE, which condemned the attacks.
The RSF has now targeted Port Sudan for the third consecutive day. On Sunday, the military side of the airport was hit, followed by strikes on fuel depots on Monday. Military sources have consistently blamed the RSF for these attacks, although the paramilitary group has yet to issue any comment.
In response to the escalating violence, the United Nations has temporarily suspended all aid flights into and out of Port Sudan. However, the UN has stated that its regular aid operations within the city continue. “None of our offices, premises or warehouses have been impacted, and we continue to carry out our regular operations,” said Farhan Haq, the UN deputy spokesperson.
Port Sudan had become a crucial hub during the conflict, serving as a relative safe haven for displaced people and the de facto seat of the army-aligned government since the RSF’s initial invasion of Khartoum two years ago. The city has also taken in hundreds of thousands of those fleeing the fighting. These recent attacks are expected to significantly worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Sudan.
While the army has managed to push the RSF out of much of central Sudan over the past two years, the paramilitary force appears to be shifting its tactics towards drone attacks. The targeting of Port Sudan, a vital port city for Sudan’s economy and aid delivery, marks a significant escalation in the conflict’s impact on previously stable areas.
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