Sudan War, 24 April 2023

Hello everybody!

A short update on Sudan of the last few days.

In the wake of rumours about Wagner’s delivery of arms for the RSF - via Syria and then the Khalifa Haftar-controlled part of Libya, circulated in the social media about a week ago - on 21 April there came a sort of ‘corresponding confirmation’ in this regards. Reportedly, the RSF received a number of MANPADS. Haftar and Burhan both denied this, but there is a growing number of reports about not only one, but two Ilyushin Il-76s hauling arms and ammo from Kufra (in southern Libya) to el-Fashir.

A view at downtown Khartoum as of early 22 April.

On 21 April, the SDF seems to have recovered the building of the General Command: the RSF promptly denied this (despite obvious evidence), instead releasing videos shown knocked out T-72s and MRAPs of the army. Early on the morning of 22 April, Mi-24/35-helicopters of the Sudanese Air Force have repeatedly attacked the compound of the RSF command in Khartoum. Since 22 April, Khartoum is – relatively – quiet. The police disappeared from the streets and both the SDF and the RSF are using its stations as ‘bases’. Looting and robberies have been reported from multiple points around the city, especially those areas controlled by the RSF.

One of two Mi-24/35s of the SuAF as seen during the strike on the RSF headquarters, early on 22 April. The building was set on fire.

In regards of who is controlling what in the city: there was not that much change, the last two or three days. Essentially, the RSF is in control of much of Omdurman, but under attacks by army units from the north and south. The RSF is controlling much of the industrial zone in northern central Khartoum, but seems the SDF is gradually encircling it there. The RSF is still in control over Khartoum IAP, and it is retaining a ‘land connection’ to eastern outskirts via the Manshia Bridge, but the SDF seems to have secured most of southern outskirts of the city.

Yesterday, Khartoum was – relatively – quiet: the reason seem to be evacuations of diplomatic personnel run by multiple countries. From what is known by now:

-          USA have evacuated its embassy (was in south-eastern Khartoum); apparently with help of helicopters; not sure if via Khartoum IAP.

-          Great Britain evacuated its diplomatic personnel.

-          France is known to have evacuated a total of about 200 expatriates in the course of two flights from Khartoum IAP. Additional flights are expected to follow today.

-          Egypt and Canada run an evacuation operation, but reported that one staff member from each country was shot and injured in the process (sorry, no other details).

-          Germany evacuated its embassy via Khartoum IAP.

-          Canadian embassy was evacuated.

A still from a video shown the tarmac of the No. 1 Squadron, SuAF, on the northern side of Khartoum IAP, as of early 21 or 22 April. Most of aircraft shot up there since 15 April were still smoldering at the time. Evacuation flights seem to be taking place from within the civilian terminal further south, though. The facility is still completely under the RSF control.

The mass of evacuees is brought to Djibouti, and then flown back home. The mass of expatriate civilians have to evacuate on their own, though: gauging by reports, most are trying to do so via Port Sudan. The Royal Saudi Navy seems to be running an evacuation operation from Port Sudan to Jeddah.

Avante-2000-class corvette al-Jubail, which reportedly evacuated 150 expatriates from Port Sudan.

Of course, meanwhile, both sides are hauling additional reinforcements in direction of the capital: here one of RSF units (reportedly) underway in that direction.

Other than this, another ‘major affair’ was related to the al-Huda prison: the biggest prison in Khartoum (actually: it is in Omdurman), with around 8,000 inmates, including former dictator Bashir. Everybody seems to agree that it was the RSF that stormed the place and released ‘all’ the inmates.