Battles and aerial bombardment in El Gezira

Violent battles continued between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF in El Gezira yesterday. Sources told Radio Dabanga about drone strikes in El Gedaref. Several unverified reports are being made by opposing sides. 

Pro-army pages on social media published video clips of SAF soldiers entering Medina Arab on Sunday, about 15 kilometres west of Wad Madani, the capital of El Gezira, while sources reported that the army left the area hours after entering it. 

Several pro-army pages on social media also accused the SAF of withdrawing from military battles that took place on Sunday in El Gedaref.  

Forces affiliated with the Sudan Liberation Movement breakaway faction under the leadership of Minni Minawi (SLM-MM), Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) faction led by Jibril Ibrahim, and the Sudan Liberation Movement faction led by Mustafa Tambour (SLM-Tambour), are participating in the SAF’s ongoing war against the RSF. 

Radio Dabanga was not able to obtain immediate statements from the rebel forces.

At least three drones struck SAF targets today, according to Agence-France Presse (AFP). One drone “struck state security and intelligence headquarters, but did not cause significant damage,” a security source told AFP from El Gedaref. 

According to the Sudan War Monitor, the SAF and allied armed groups conducted limited offensive operations into El Gezira, capturing eastern villages of the state and clashing with the RSF on two roads leading to Wad Madani. 

At dawn on Sunday, the SAF allegedly bombed several sites on the border of the areas controlled by the RSF in El Gezira. The RSF announced that it had repelled an attack on El Fao, 25 kilometres east of the front line between the army and the paramilitaries, inflicting heavy losses on the army and allied armed movements. 

The Sudan War Monitor reported that an RSF spokesperson falsely reported that the fighting took place on the outskirts of the El Fao area in neighbouring El Gedaref, when in fact it took place more than 20 km inside El Gezira.  

Today, a military source also claimed that “a drone had bombed” an army division in El Fao. Both officials who spoke to AFP requested anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media. 

Sources said that several of the wounded were transferred to hospitals in El Fao, El Gedaref, and Kassala. 

The Wad Madani Resistance Committees reported that two people were killed in the village of Sharif Yagoub due to shrapnel during clashes between the SAF and the RSF to the east of the capital. They called on all citizens to stay away from ongoing clashes. 

Citizens from El Hasaheisa in El Gezira said that many residents were displaced due to the RSF attack on Saturday and Sunday, which left about 28 dead and hundreds wounded. 

They indicated that the wounded were transferred to El Managil Hospital, where there is a severe shortage of medicine and hospital medical staff. The El Hasaheisa Resistance Committees indicated that the RSF siege of a village in El Hasaheisa has been ongoing for three days. 

Looting, theft, and “all forms of violations” by the RSF were reported by residents to Radio Dabanga. The RSF have looted all cars, money, gold, and even agricultural crops. Citizens were allegedly forced to transport the stolen goods, being threatened with artillery and whips. Radio Dabanga was unable to obtain an immediate comment from the RSF leaders regarding the accusations. 

Since December 18, when the paramilitary RSF seized El Gezira from the army, the RSF has been in control of large parts of the state. Late March, the RSF formed a Civil Founding Council, an informed source reported to Radio Dabanga. 

April 2, citing recent SAF bombing raids in El Fasher and RSF attacks in El Gezira, US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello stated recent campaigns have “resulted in civilian deaths, injuries, and displacement.” He emphasised that Sudanese civilians “continue to bear the brunt of this heinous war.”