Rapid Support attack Balila oilfield airport and kill at least 16

Raid increases the risk of more fighting in West Kordofan

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked Sudan’s Balila oilfield and captured the airport today, October 30, prompting oil workers to evacuate. They killed at least 16 people in military uniforms, according to geoconfirmed videos from the location.

A video filmed at a parking lot behind the airport (11.223607, 28.552201) shows RSF combatants celebrating around a group of 13 bodies in uniform, which they had collected in one place. Another video reviewed by Sudan War Monitor showed another three bodies in SAF uniforms, as well as a captured tank and technical.

The RSF also filmed themselves celebrating in front of the main airport building, around the control tower, and on the runway.

There was no confirmation of the number of casualties on the RSF side.

In a statement, the RSF media office said they “successfully liberated Balila Airport in West Kordofan State, inflicting severe casualties and equipment losses on the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and its extremist backers from the former regime…