The Halfaya Bridge, a vital link between Khartoum Bahri, also known as Khartoum North, and Omdurman across the Nile River, was partly destroyed last night. Sudan's two main warring parties, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), exchanged accusations over the incident.
This marks the third bridge targeted since the conflict began in April 2023. In November 2023 alone, both the Shambat Bridge, south of Halfaya and linking Bahri to Omdurman, and the Jebel Aulia Dam Bridge south of Khartoum were destroyed. Both SAF and RSF blamed the other for the incidents.
The Halfaya Bridge was the sole remaining crossing between Omdurman on the west bank of the River Nile and Khartoum Bahri on the east. Sudan’s military suffered heavy casualties last year attempting to cross the bridge from Omdurman. Another SAF attempt last month was unsuccessful.
The partial destruction significantly complicates troop movement for both sides across the two cities, which form part of the greater Khartoum metropolitan area.
The cause remains unclear. Militarily, the development benefits the RSF by making it more difficult for SAF to carry out an offensive from Omdurman into Bahri. Previously, we assessed that SAF intended to carry out such an offensive. But recent developments in El Fasher, Kordofan, Sennar, and elsewhere may have caused SAF to scrap those plans and redirect military resource elsewhere, in which case SAF would not need this bridge. Destroying it would reduce the threat of an RSF offensive from Bahri towards the strategically important Wadi Saidna military area.
Either side could have placed explosive charges under the bridge at the location where it was damaged, which was on the Bahri side in a contested area.
Although the RSF generally control the Bahri side of the river, they defend the river from positions about a half kilometer or more east of the river, not at the river bank itself. This has allowed SAF troops sometimes to cross the bridge under fire and establish a temporary bridgehead, before withdrawing.
Most recently, SAF troops were seen under the Halfaya Bridge on the Bahri side on May 31, at the exact place where it was damaged last night. They could have planted explosive charges on the bridge secretly at that time.
A clandestine nighttime crossing via boat or underwater is also plausible.
The other bridge destroyed near this location, Shambat Bridge, was targeted by the Sudan Armed Forces in November to facilitate an offensive in Omdurman. Similarly, SAF destroyed the Jebel Aulia Bridge to bolster the defense of that city. SAF therefore have a history of destroying bridges whereas the RSF do not.
An alternative explanation for the damage is that an artillery or rocket strike weakened the bridge structurally, causing the partial collapse. Only the bridge’s eastbound lanes were destroyed, supporting the idea of an unintended collapse.
In a statement, the SAF blamed the RSF for the bridge's partial destruction, claiming it was a deliberate act to hinder their operations and deflect from the RSF's own low morale and alleged use of mercenaries. Their statement said:
“In continuation of its systematic targeting of the country's capabilities, the RSF militia yesterday destroyed a large section of the eastern side of the Halfaya Bridge, damaging the concrete structure. The Dagalo militia [referring to RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo] destroyed the infrastructure to cover for the low morale of its mercenary elements, thinking it would prevent the armed forces from carrying out its duty.”
The RSF retorted, placing the blame on the SAF. Citing recent battlefield setbacks, the RSF accused Sudan's traditional military of not only destroying the Halfaya Bridge but also planning to damage the Jebel Awlia Dam, a crucial source of water and electricity for Khartoum State. They vowed to continue their fight and “liberate” Sudan from the “evils” of the Burhan regime. Their statement reads:
“In continuation of its approach to destroying public and private facilities and after the continuous defeats it has suffered; The Burhan militia and the Islamic Movement brigades, disguised as the armed forces, destroyed the Halfaya Bridge linking the northern cities of Khartoum Bahri and Omdurman - this morning - which is the same method they used before in destroying the Shambat Bridge, the Jaili Petroleum Refinery, and their desperate attempt to destroy the Jabal Aulia reservoir. The Rapid Support Forces condemn this terrorist sabotage behavior that has been practiced by the militias and battalions of the Islamic Movement; It calls on all regional and international organizations to monitor and document these crimes, which constitute full-fledged war crimes. The Burhan militia and the terrorist Islamic Movement Brigades sought, by seeking the assistance of experts to help them destroy the Halfaya Bridge to impede the advance and attack of our forces on the Wadi Saidna area… The Burhan militias were quick to blame their crime on our forces in a failed and exposed attempt to divert attention and cover up their continuing defeats, the most recent of which was the liberation of the 17th Sinja Division and the capital of Sennar State…”
Khartoum has a network of 15 bridges. These bridges span the Blue and White Nile rivers, offering routes within the capital. However, the ongoing conflict significantly disrupts movement across them.
The RSF currently enjoys a relative advantage in movement between Khartoum and East Nile. This is because they control both the Manshia and Soba Bridges on the western and eastern sides of the Blue Nile, respectively. Meanwhile, the Al-Dabasin Bridge, intended to connect Khartoum and southern Omdurman, remains unfinished.
News in Brief
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The World Food Program says that unidentified armed men attacked three of its trucks full of food aid en route to Central Darfur and looted all of the food.
Doctors Without Borders said that on the morning of June 29, a shell directly hit a residential building in Omdurman where MSF staff live, damaging the building's top floor amid heavy shelling in the city. The aid agency noted, “Our team members present were unhurt although sadly there were casualties among other residents in the area. This incident once again demonstrates the violence faced by people in Sudan. Civilians must be protected in this brutal war.”
Abu Shouk Camp in North Darfur, located outside El Fasher, has endured heavy shelling by the RSF over the past few weeks, killing dozens of people. A member of the Abu Shouk Emergency Room told Radio Dabanga, “The fighting has caused extensive damage to the camp. The displaced live day by day. If they cannot not go to the market, they don’t have a meal for the day. But many don’t have work anymore, so most of the camp residents have become beggars.”
South Sudan’s Ministry of Finance has suspended payments to other government ministries amid a budget crisis caused in part by (north) Sudan’s conflict, which cut off oil exports that the South Sudanese government relied on heavily.
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