The Sudanese Air Force has resumed long-range bombing raids into Darfur and Kordofan, hitting areas deemed to be “social incubators” of the Rapid Support Forces.
Before dawn on Tuesday, an aircraft bombed Ed Daien, the capital of East Darfur State, killing between 10 and 15 people, according to media and human rights groups.
Said Madibo, deputy nazir of the Rizeigat Arab tribe, said that an entire family was among those killed. He said the bombs landed west of the government district, and in the Um Waragat area. Madibo stressed his opposition to the continuation of the war.
Another tribal leader, the omda Musa Issa, told Radio Dabanga that the bombs fell in five locations, killing ten people. He said one of the bombs fell in the Railroad neighborhood, killing two people and wounding two others; another fell in the Al-Tadamon neighborhood, killing a family of six, including women and children; while other bombs fell in the Um Waragat area and south of the old garrison.
Some livestock were also killed, according to videos from the city.
The Air Force also bombed Hamrat al-Sheikh in North Kordofan, dropping barrel bombs. According to Emergency Lawyers, the attack was the tenth in eight months. The lawyers stated, “The area is free of any military activity or any military manifestations, thus this attack constitutes a crime.”
Lastly, the Air Force reportedly bombed the North Darfur capital, coinciding with ground clashes in the area. In a flash alert, the International Organization for Migration noted,
“On 16 February 2024, clashes renewed between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces in Al Fasher Town… reportedly, SAF conducted airstrikes targeting RSF positions across northern and eastern neighborhoods of Al Fasher Town. Field teams reported that the event led to widespread displacement. Affected houshoulds sought refuge in southern neighborhoods within Al Fasher Town. The situation remians tense and unpreidctable.”
Most of Darfur is under control of the Rapid Support Forces, except for some areas controlled by the long-time rebel Sudan Liberation Army led by Abdelwahid Al-Nur, which is neutral, and the ex-rebel Joint Force led by Minni Minawi, which is likewise neutral at the field level, though more closely aligned with SAF at the political level. The army have a presence only in El Fasher.
Sudan army reinforces Kadugli
Meanwhile, the Sudanese army has reinforced its garrison in the South Kordofan capital Kadugli, which could portend an escalation of military operations in the area.
Military sources from South Kordofan reported to Sudan War Monitor that the army intends to open the Dilling-Kadugli road, which has remained closed since the SPLM-N led by General Abdulaziz Al-Hilu captured territory in the area last year, severing the link between the two South Kordofan cities. RSF loyalists are also active along that road, and around the city of Dilling.
The same source confirmed the arrival of military reinforcements to army’s 14th Division headquarters in Kadugli. The sources indicated that plans to reopen the road could be related to local demands for the delivery of goods to the region, after transporters were affected by high taxes and traffic fees imposed by militants affiliated with RSF.
The sources, who preferred anonymity for security reasons, stated that the high transit fees imposed by militants on transporters are causing the prices of goods to rise, making it difficult for the ordinary citizen to obtain them. Salaries of civil servants in the area haven’t been paid since the beginning of the war, worsening the hardship.
Meanwhile, clashes between Arab and Nuba tribes in the Habila area, specifically at Teital village, have displaced thousands. If members of the predominantly Nuba SPLM-North and the predominantly Arab RSF join in the fighting, this risks an escalation between RSF and SPLM-N. Satellite images indicate fire damage in the area on about February 9, corroborating media reports of an attack (satellite image analysis by Faisal Elsheikh). However, videos of civilian dead, purporting to come from this area, are unverified.
New geolocations
Geolocating videos filmed by combatants is a key way that we track the conflict. Here are two of the latest geolocations from Sudan’s OSINT community.
Located by @mustapro, this video shows a drone strike on an RSF vehicle in the Abbasiyah neighborhood of Omdurman. This is a frontline area and such strikes helped the army achieve a recent breakthrough in the city.
Also from Omdurman, this video was recorded by an RSF soldier in the Doha neighborhood, vowing to turn it into a “graveyard” for the army attackers. It was located by Faisal Elsheikh and Muawia Yassin.
In brief
West Darfur Humanitarian aid commissioner Abu Al Gasim Ahmed Ali said that 22 children died of malnutrition in the Mornei area, saying other localities are also suffering an increase in malnutrition, according to Darfur 24.
Radio Tamazuj reports a “frenzy” for Sudani network sim cards in Port Sudan, following outages on other networks.
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, commander-in-chief of the Sudan Armed Forces, visited the southeastern state of Gedaref yesterday, where he delivered speeches at the 2nd Infantry Division in Gedaref city and among frontline troops in Fau. He said that the war has “taken on a different character than the past ten months,” downplaying chances of a negotiated solution and promising peace through victory.
Justice and Equality Movement troops arrived in Omdurman to support the army.
RSF arrested youth and activists in Kreinek, West Darfur.
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