Oil depot blaze following paramilitary assault
Friction fuels flames in Port Sudan
In a stark display of violence, a new explosion rocked Port Sudan on Monday, engulfing the petroleum depot in flames. This series of events were sparked by earlier day fire caused by a drone attack by paramilitary forces. A government insider relayed the news to AFP, stating, "The latest explosion was a result of one of the tanks igniting due to the fire's spread."
The sky over Port Sudan turned cherry red after another detonation later in the day, as reported by an on-ground AFP correspondent. The city, which serves as the temporary seat of the Sudanese government, has found itself at the heart of chaos yet again.
Tension between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, which began in April 2023, has rapidly escalated. Port Sudan, critical for its strategic position on the Red Sea, has been a battleground between these opposing forces.
The fiery events of Monday are reminiscent of an earlier drone attack that triggered a massive explosion at the city's petroleum depot. The Ministry of Energy had previously denounced the attack as a "terrorist act" and expressed concerns about a potential catastrophe in the area.
Despite causing no reported casualties, this strike further heightened tensions between the two factions. Earlier in the week, the RSF had already demonstrated their newfound propensity for drone attacks with an attack on Port Sudan airport, causing a brief suspension of flights.
The RSF, who have faced setbacks in recent months, have increasingly embraced drone warfare to hit deep into areas controlled by SAF troops. However, the consequences of such unrelenting violence have been dire. The current conflict has claimed over 150,000 lives and displaced nearly 13 million people, driving certain regions towards famine, making it the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, according to the United Nations.
The power struggle between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane (SAF) and General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo (RSF) shows no signs of abating, despite ceasefires and international mediation efforts. The conflict's center stage shifts from Khartoum to Port Sudan, causing havoc in the city and endangering the hundreds of thousands of displaced people residing there.
- The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has extended its impact to the finance and real-estate industries, with the unrest in Port Sudan causing concerns for the safety and stability of investments in residential properties.
- The escalating war-and-conflicts in Port Sudan have significantly affected the energy sector, as the city serves as a crucial hub for oil and petroleum industries in the region.
- The increased use of drone attacks by both sides in the conflict has also raised questions in the politics and general-news spheres about the arms race and the implications for regional security and diplomacy.
- As the conflict continues, crime-and-justice issues have emerged, with reports of looting and lawlessness spreading in Port Sudan, as well as concerns about potential human rights violations.
- The prolonged war-and-conflicts in Sudan have not only resulted in enormous human suffering and displacement but have also strained the country's economy, with the finance, energy, and real-estate industries all adversely affected.
