Shambat Bridge destroyed, bringing new advantage to Sudan's army
Attack on bridge augurs fresh Omdurman fighting
A massive explosion at dawn today in Sudan’s capital destroyed the Shambat Bridge, which links Omdurman with Khartoum Bahri.
Both parties confirmed the news in their own statements, each side blaming the other. Video from the scene provided visual confirmation.
Shambat Bridge is the only bridge controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) across the Nile, making it a crucial link to move men and materiel from Omdurman to Khartoum Bahri and Khartoum.
Three other bridges across the White Nile are contested: Halfaya Bridge, Fatehab Bridge, and White Nile (Medical Corps) Bridge. The RSF control the eastern bank of each of these bridges, while SAF controls the western side.
The RSF now will have greater difficulty moving reinforcements from one part of the capital region to another. However, they still control bridges across the Blue Nile, including Mek Nimr Bridge, Manshia Bridge, and Soba Bridge. They can therefore still move troops back and forth from Khartoum to East Nile and Khartoum Bahri.
It is only Omdurman that now is cut off from the RSF forces in the two other cities.
In order to reinforce Omdurman from Khartoum, or vice versa, the RSF will now have to move troops by river. RSF patrol boats roam freely along the White Nile between Al-Lamab and Jebel Aulia. However, this route is slower and more dangerous than moving troops by road, due to the risk of air attacks.
A particular logistical difficulty for the RSF could be supplying troops in Omdurman with fuel, which RSF have been taking from the Garri Refinery, located north of Bahri. Two fires erupted at the refinery this week, which the RSF blamed on air attacks.
The destruction of the Shambat Bridge therefore represents a limited by still significant advantage for the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) over the RSF.
For its part, SAF can still move men and materiel across the Nile in Shendi, 200 km north of Khartoum, or in Ad Douiem and Kosti, 200 km and 300 km to the south, respectively.
The attack on Shambat Bridge could presage a major SAF offensive in either Omdurman or Bahri. In the days leading up to this attack, the army already had carried out fresh attacks in the Omdurman Industrial Area, Omdurman Popular Market, and surrounding neighborhoods.
Mutual blame
In a statement this morning, the army spokesperson said,
In the context of its project to destroy the country's capabilities and its infrastructure, and as a result of the progress of our forces in the field, especially in the axis of Omdurman, the rebel militia today at dawn destroyed the Shambat Bridge… which is a new crime added to its record towards the homeland…
Likewise, the RSF spokesperson said,
In continuation of the plan to destroy vital infrastructure, on Saturday morning, the terrorist al-Burhan militia and the remnants of the National Congress destroyed the Shambat Bridge linking the cities of Omdurman and Bahri, thinking that by doing so they could defeat the bravest of our heroic forces. The former regime's extremist mouthpieces have been constantly demanding that the militia leader, Al-Burhan, destroy the Shambat Bridge, and today he fulfilled their demands…
Humanitarian consequences
Of course, the destruction of the bridge has significant consequences for the civilian population too. Because the other bridges across the Nile are contested, this was the only bridge that civilians could use to cross.
Some families may now be divided on opposite sides of the river.
It may also now be more difficult to evacuate wounded or sick persons from one part of the capital region to another. Civilians in RSF-controlled parts of Omdurman may be particularly vulnerable, since there are fewer options for medical care in this area, and referrals were being made to hospitals in Bahri and East Nile.
Economically, the destruction of this bridge is another setback for Sudan. Recovering from the war will cost hundreds of billions of dollars, and this adds to the damage.
Shambat Bridge was built in 1960, a few years after Sudan’s independence.
