Sudan’s largest port city, Port Sudan, recently came under attack from consecutive drone strikes by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, as part of the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF. Previously a haven for displaced Sudanese civilians, the port city was also a crucial gateway for foreign aid and served as the country’s largest fuel depot. These recent attacks demonstrate an escalation of the violent confrontations between the Sudanese army and the RSF amid the country’s civil war, now in its second year.
Witnesses reported explosions, fire, and smoke clouds, as well as a widespread power outage caused by the attack. According to Al Jazeera, an anonymous army source told the AFP news agency that the recent explosion was due to a drone attack that was then met with “anti-aircraft missiles.” The attacks also affected UN aid shipments; as cited by the BBC, the UN has temporarily suspended aid flights to Port Sudan, but regular aid operations continue, said Farhan Haq, the United Nations deputy spokesperson.
The recent attacks have received international condemnation, notably from bordering Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as well as concern from the UN, according to Reuters. Despite attention from neighboring regions, the war remains largely underrepresented in global media coverage, leading to widespread neglect of the increasing militarization of the conflict. Both the Sudanese army and the RSF are seeking national control, simultaneously putting civilian lives in critical danger. The expansion of combat into a haven city indicates how this political conflict has severely intensified Sudan’s humanitarian crisis. Accordingly, only a peace-building resolution will ensure the prioritization of civilian lives. Not only must both groups reach a ceasefire agreement, but international organizations should assist in strengthening Sudan’s political and economic institutions to promote democratic procedures and prevent the resurgence of authoritarian or military rule going forward.
Sudan’s ongoing civil war stems from the country’s extensive history of political instability and authoritarian rule. After the 2019 military coup that ousted Sudan’s former autocratic head of state, Omar al-Bashir, civilian rule temporarily governed the country. However, in 2023, the Sudanese army, in collaboration with the RSF, launched a coup against the civilian-led government, effectively seizing control and dismantling Sudan’s momentary transition toward democracy. After tensions surfaced between the army and RSF, the groups diverged into a full-scale civil war as of April 2023. According to the UN, the war has displaced millions in the midst of an already dire humanitarian crisis.
According to the Center for American Progress, despite the UAE’s denial of involvement with the RSF, Amnesty International and the UN Security Council have both reported evidence of Emirati weaponry entering Sudan. According to Al Jazeera, Sudan formally accused the UAE of arming and funding the RSF, claiming a breach of the UN Genocide Convention. However, the ICJ dismissed the case earlier this week, citing a lack of jurisdiction to continue proceedings. Evidently, legal accusations fail to achieve the long-term goal of putting an end to the ongoing violence.
Considering the war’s recent escalation, tensions are actively rising and violence is spreading. The attack on a major port city not only hinders international trade and the country’s necessary resources, but it also significantly harms the civilian population that sought refuge in Port Sudan as a result of the widespread displacement caused by the war. Global condemnation and legal contestation are proving ineffective in preventing further conflict and violence. A more intensive response must be taken against the war’s escalation. However, a combative approach rooted in militarized pressure will only intensify the pre-existing violence. Not only does Sudan need more urgency and humanitarian aid, but the country’s civilians are in dire need of an effective peace-building and maintenance process that puts their lives above the politics of control.
