Sudan’s eastern city of Port Sudan, which has served as the government’s temporary seat of power since war broke out in 2023, was rocked by a drone strike that officials say was carried out by paramilitary forces.
According to army spokesman Nabil Abdullah, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched an attack using suicide drones that “targeted Osman Digna Air Base, a goods warehouse and some civilian facilities in the city of Port Sudan.” The army confirmed there were no reported casualties, though minor structural damage was sustained.
The assault on Port Sudan marks a significant escalation in Sudan’s ongoing civil war. Until now, the strategic Red Sea city had been a rare zone of relative stability, having been spared from the violence that has devastated other regions. The RSF’s latest move appears to signal an increase in their drone strike capabilities and reach, despite being pushed out of much of Khartoum and other key regions by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
Earlier in the day, residents reported feeling the impact of multiple explosions. One eyewitness, who lives about 20 kilometers north of Port Sudan’s airport, said the blasts shook his home. Meanwhile, social media was flooded with unverified footage showing a fiery explosion followed by a large plume of smoke rising above the city.
Control of territory in Sudan remains bitterly contested. The regular army, led by General Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, holds sway in the north, east, and central parts of the country, while the RSF, under General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, maintains strongholds in the western Darfur region and areas in the south.
Sudan’s war erupted in 2023 during what was meant to be a transition toward democracy after the fall of longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019. The SAF and RSF initially operated as allies, helping to remove the autocratic leader and briefly participating in a joint civilian-military transitional council. But tensions reached a boiling point after their October 2021 coup, during which they dissolved the civilian government and seized power.
The uneasy alliance eventually collapsed when Hemedti refused to integrate the RSF into the national army, sparking the brutal conflict. Since then, both sides have faced accusations of war crimes and violations of international law. The war has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 12 million people, creating what many humanitarian organizations describe as the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis.
Regional Diplomacy Struggles To Make Headway
As the violence rages on, diplomatic efforts have intensified. The African Union (AU), despite having suspended Sudan following the 2021 coup, remains actively involved in brokering peace. Through its Master Roadmap on Silencing the Guns, the AU has been pushing for an end to hostilities while seeking to coordinate mediation via its Expanded Mechanism. This includes involvement from Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and neighboring countries.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), for its part, has been pushing for a Sudanese-owned peace process. It has hosted multiple forums aimed at aligning the work of various special envoys. However, trust issues persist. The Sudanese military government has expressed skepticism about IGAD’s neutrality, pointing specifically to Ethiopia’s involvement and its perceived leanings toward the RSF.
Other regional powers have also stepped in. The Arab League has called for repeated ceasefires and has promised logistical support for negotiations. Egypt, a long-standing regional actor, has aligned with the United States to encourage Sudan’s leaders to return to talks. However, tension remains between Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), whose backing of the RSF has complicated mediation tracks.
Meanwhile, frameworks developed by ECOWAS, though tailored for West African conflicts, are being examined as potential models for inclusive dialogue in Sudan.
The situation is further complicated by foreign involvement. The UAE has been linked to support for the RSF, while Russia’s Wagner Group has reportedly collaborated with paramilitary factions. These external influences have undermined AU-led initiatives centered on preserving Sudan’s sovereignty and reducing interference.
Despite these challenges, the AU continues to stress the urgency of protecting civilians, allowing humanitarian access, and forging a united path to peace.
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