The wider the battlefield in Sudan, the more analysts warn that it will prolong the conflict and bring the country into a phase whose features are unknown, harm civilians and force armed movements to engage in battles, which will double their danger.
07 July, 2023
The battles between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum intensified in a more violent manner, using heavy weapons and bombing warplanes and marches during the past two days, in the latest development of the conflict between the two parties since mid-April, which threatens to turn the crisis into a long one that will not be easy. solve it. Violent clashes took place in separate areas in the three cities of the capital, Khartoum, “Khartoum, Bahri and Omdurman” on a daily basis.
The Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces accuse each other of starting the fighting since mid-April, and of committing violations during a series of armistices that did not succeed in putting an end to the clashes that left more than 3,000 dead, most of them civilians, and more than 2.8 million displaced people inside and outside one of the poorest countries in the world, according to the report. Sudanese Ministry of Health and the United Nations.
The circle of fighting expanded and the city of El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state (south), entered the destination with the outbreak of clashes there last Wednesday, as violent clashes with light and heavy weapons resumed, between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in El-Obeid, the center of North Kordofan state, in the south of the country.
Eyewitnesses reported that “violent clashes erupted west of Al-Abyad city, in which artillery and light weapons were used.” Eyewitnesses said that “the clashes led to the closure of the city’s market, and dozens of citizens fled their homes in the western neighborhoods of the city.” The witnesses stated that the clashes took place in the Rapid Support Forces gathering centers, west of the city, and lasted for several hours.
Escalating fight
Since the outbreak of the war in mid-April, the city of El-Obeid has witnessed intermittent clashes between the two parties to the conflict in Sudan, which led to power and water cuts and the deterioration of health services in hospitals. On Thursday, eyewitnesses reported that the city of Bara in North Kordofan state was attacked by the Rapid Support Forces on Wednesday evening.
The witnesses stated that the city was subjected to looting, looting and burning, without mentioning the occurrence of human losses, while the Sudanese army or the Rapid Support Forces did not issue any comment. Bara is located 40 kilometers north of El-Obeid, the center of North Kordofan state. On Friday, the Rapid Support Forces attacked the city of Bara in North Kordofan state, 50 km northeast of El-Obeid, the state capital.
The joining of cities in the state of North Kordofan (south), along with Khartoum and Darfur (west), and South Kordofan (south) and the Blue Nile (southeast), draws a murky situation for the future of establishing peace in the country. The expansion of the map of clashes is an indication that this conflict may continue for a longer period as long as there is the ability of the two sides to fight on new fronts away from the flashpoint areas since the beginning of the conflict in Khartoum and Darfur (west).
According to observers, the hypothesis that the war will continue for a longer period of time is the most likely option due to the current absence of solutions to the crisis or even a ceasefire agreement. The entry of new areas may increase the chances of its expansion to other areas and cities that have not yet witnessed any clashes.
These new events will certainly push more displaced persons and refugees to search for safe places, just like other Sudanese cities that witnessed fighting, where the humanitarian, health and security conditions deteriorate.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support was characterized by the fact that it was taking place inside the cities, which made the areas of control between them intertwined and unstable, and this complicated the situation more as the two parties shared the places of control and thus each would defend its gains and seek more control, especially in the capital, Khartoum, where the commanders of the forces are stationed. The army and rapid support, and its streets witnessed fierce fighting around strategic headquarters.
No solutions in sight
And all these headquarters around which fighting takes place in Khartoum or other cities are located within residential areas. And there are increasing fears of widening the scope of the clashes in the country in light of the presence of armed movements that are still raising arms in the face of Khartoum. This is what happened in the states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, where battles broke out with the SPLM-N under the leadership of Abdulaziz al-Hilu, who has been fighting since 2011 in the two regions.
◙ The conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces is taking place inside the cities, which has made the areas of control between them intertwined and unstable
During the past week, the SPLM-N, led by Abdulaziz Al-Hilu, attacked the city of Kurmuk in the Blue Nile State (southeast). This was preceded by the Sudanese army accusing the SPLM of attacking its forces in the city of Kadugli in South Kordofan state (south), despite the armistice. During the last four years, the Khartoum government and the SPLM-N extended the cease-fire agreement between them in the areas under their respective control.
And last Tuesday (June 27), the army commander, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, called on Sudanese youth to join the army to confront the Rapid Support Forces. He said, “The size of the conspiracy requires everyone to be vigilant and ready to confront the existential threats to our state, and therefore we ask all the youth of my country and everyone who can defend not to hesitate or delay in playing this national role in their place of residence or by joining the military units to gain the honor of defending the survival of the Sudanese state.” “.
Sudanese political analyst Othman Fadlallah also concluded in his assessment of the situation that all indications indicate that the war will be prolonged and its geographical area will expand. And he added in his speech, “Thus, new states will enter the fighting in the center, east and north of the country.” Fadlallah indicated that the military situation on the ground has not changed much since the outbreak of fighting in mid-April and remains indecisive.
Source: alarab-co-uk
