The eastern Sudanese city of Port Sudan has been under continuous drone attacks for a week by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a rebel militia led by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.
The RSF has targeted both military and civilian sites, including Port Sudan International Airport, fuel depots, the city’s power station, and the Flamingo naval base. Residential neighborhoods and hotels have also been hit, sparking fear and mass displacement among residents.
Many of those currently living in Port Sudan had already fled from other conflict zones and are now being forced to move again. Thousands have left the city, especially from areas that have been heavily bombarded.
Smoke from fires at the fuel depots and power plant darkened the city’s skies for days. Firefighters said on Sunday that they had finally brought the blazes under control.
Port Sudan became the temporary home of Sudanese government institutions after the war broke out in April 2023 between the RSF and the regular Sudanese army. The conflict initially centered in Khartoum, which the Sudanese army has since reclaimed.
A Port Sudan resident told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, “We were living a normal life, and now we’re afraid of everything. The drones strike without warning and cause massive destruction. We fear for our lives, especially because the drones often miss their intended targets.”
Medical sources reported at least ten deaths. Some victims were killed directly by the strikes, while others, including those with chronic illnesses, died due to smoke inhalation.
Entire districts of the city, including the upscale Airport and Transit areas—home to government agencies and international organizations—have been emptied of residents.
“I fled with my family of nine to a remote area to escape the drones,” said Altoum Ali, a displaced resident from the Transit district. “We’re staying in a small house with a friend in an area with no services. If the strikes don’t stop, we’ll leave Port Sudan completely.”
Electricity in the city has been entirely cut off since last Tuesday. Before that, it was only available for six hours every other day. The power outage has worsened the water crisis, with a single barrel of water now costing $30. Prices of basic goods like cooking gas and food have also skyrocketed.
Residents say the government has not provided any support or advice to help them stay safe. Authorities have ordered small shops and cafes to close and banned street vendors, leaving many without access to food.
Fadwa Al-Tayeb, a woman displaced multiple times, called the situation “catastrophic.”
Speaking to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, she said: “What the RSF is doing is a curse on us, especially for people who are displaced. I’ve now been forced to flee four times—first from Omdurman to Wad Madani, then to Singa, then to Port Sudan, and now I have to flee again.”
