Khartoum / Merowe — The battles between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) entered their third day yesterday, with intense fighting in the central cities and fierce clashes around Merowe airport in Northern State. Heavy combat erupted near the General Command in Khartoum and spread to other parts of the capital, including Omdurman, Khartoum North (Barhi), and the East Nile area east of the cities. Residents are suffering from water and power outages, and commodity prices have surged as most shops remain closed.
The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) recorded at least 144 civilian deaths yesterday, a figure that excludes military casualties. United Nations data list 185 confirmed deaths without distinguishing between civilians and combatants, and witnesses say many bodies lie in the streets of the central cities, unrecoverable because of ongoing gunfire. Neither the SAF nor the RSF have provided reliable casualty estimates.
With state media shut down, both sides have turned to social media, issuing contradictory statements. The SAF claimed in a press release that it controls all military sites in Khartoum, while the RSF announced its own control of several installations. After heavy fighting, the army reportedly retook the national radio and television building near the Nile in Omdurman, yet the RSF posted a video from inside the same building, asserting it remained under their control. Residents in southern Khartoum reported fighter‑jet strikes on RSF bases in El Medina El Riyadiya, Ard El Muaskarat, El Nahda, and El Mujahideen neighborhoods, and said the RSF employed anti‑aircraft artillery.
Journalists have warned that a large amount of unverified and false information circulates online, with both sides claiming victories. Social‑media users identified footage from Syria in 2020 that the RSF used to allege it had shot down an SAF plane. The lack of reliable state reporting and the spread of misinformation make it difficult for journalists to track events. Researcher Thomas van Linge published a map indicating approximate SAF‑ and RSF‑controlled areas, noting that the situation remains fluid.
There are reports that RSF troops have occupied residential buildings, forcing civilians to flee. Several witnesses shared footage of RSF fighters discarding military uniforms for civilian clothes, either as desertion or an insurgency tactic. Lt. Gen. Abdelfattah El Burhan, commander of the SAF, declared the RSF a “rebel force,” stripping it of official status.
In Merowe, residents told Radio Dabanga that clashes at Merowe airport continued yesterday, with unconfirmed reports that Egyptian soldiers captured by the RSF on Saturday remain detained. The fighting has involved hit‑and‑run attacks, prompting many locals near the airport to flee after army warnings. The SAF’s press statement acknowledged RSF control of Merowe airport but vowed to retake it soon; journalists confirmed RSF presence at the airport on Saturday morning. Satellite imagery shows an Egyptian aircraft burned on the airbase, and the RSF is said to be holding captured Egyptian officers.
The RSF lacks air power or trained pilots, suggesting that destroying aircraft may be a tactic to prevent their use if the group loses control of the airports. Geolocated video shows RSF forces inside the Jebel Aulia airbase in Khartoum, and satellite images reveal severe damage at Khartoum International Airport. The RSF released footage that appears to show Egyptian troops “surrendering” at Merowe; the BBC and other outlets are working to verify its authenticity.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al‑Sisi said on state television that he is in contact with the RSF to ensure the safety of Egyptian troops in Sudan. The RSF pledged to cooperate with Egyptian authorities to facilitate the troops’ return. Any damage to Egyptian personnel or equipment could further inflame tensions with Egypt and Gulf states.
Comments are closed for this story.