In a targeted attack, two drone strikes hit an army base in Sudan’s east. The incident occurred following a graduation ceremony attended by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the country’s de facto leader, amidst an ongoing civil war.
The strike took place in the town of Gebeit, located about 50 miles from Port Sudan, the wartime capital. The assault resulted in at least five fatalities and numerous injuries, according to the Sudanese army spokesperson, Nabil Abdallah.
General al-Burhan narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during the attack and attributed the assault to the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group engaged in a power struggle with the army for the past 15 months.
The military has not confirmed the general’s well-being or his exact whereabouts during the strike. However, social media posts show footage of General al-Burhan interacting with military personnel and civilians before and after the graduation ceremony.
No organization has claimed responsibility for the drone strikes yet. Additionally, the paramilitary group’s media office has not issued a statement in response to the incident.
Impact of the Ongoing Conflict
The prolonged conflict between General al-Burhan and his rival, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan, has had devastating consequences for Sudan, one of Africa’s largest countries. The conflict has resulted in over 18,000 casualties, as estimated by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. Aid workers believe the actual death toll might be even higher.
More than 10 million people have been displaced from their homes, according to the United Nations. Additionally, over half of Sudan’s 48 million population faces food insecurity, with hundreds of thousands at risk of famine.
