In mid-February, the Sudanese military reclaimed control of Omdurman, triggering chaos as people scatter in panic, fearing further attacks. Abruptly, resulting in horrific incidents of rape, ethnic clashes, and public executions.
Testimonies from civilians entangled in Sudan's internal conflict, detailing horrific incidents of rape, ethnic clashes, and public executions. Despite the dangers, journalists have successfully reached the front lines near Khartoum, the nation's capital.
High-ranking UN officials have characterized the situation as thrusting Sudan into "one of the most severe humanitarian crises in recent memory," with warnings of a looming famine of unprecedented scale. Concerns are also mounting over a potential resurgence of genocide akin to that witnessed in Darfur two decades ago.
In a sudden and devastating turn of events, a powerful explosion rocks the streets of Omdurman, triggering chaos as people scatter in panic, fearing further attacks. Moments earlier, the same streets bustled with pedestrians gathering essential supplies from newly reopened shops.
In mid-February, the Sudanese military reclaimed control of Omdurman, one of three cities lining the River Nile that collectively constitute Khartoum. Despite the return of civilians, daily mortar attacks, like the one witnessed on the main street, persist.
Accessing the conflict zone, which erupted last April, has proved challenging for international media outlets. Nevertheless, the journalists managed to penetrate the front lines, revealing a stark transformation of Omdurman from a bustling hub to a desolate wasteland.
The relentless power struggle between the national military and its former ally, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, has claimed the lives of over 14,000 individuals nationwide, with an even higher toll suspected. Khartoum and its neighboring cities have been battlegrounds for nearly a year.
The RSF has extended its control to areas south of the capital and significant portions of Darfur, long plagued by intercommunal violence. Survivors who fled to Chad recounted harrowing experiences of rape and abduction by militia members.
While embedded with the army in Omdurman, journalists faced strict surveillance and filming restrictions, indicative of heightened tensions and the military’s apprehensions about potential leaks.
Despite recent military advances in Omdurman, sporadic gunfire persists, with the front line now tracing the banks of the Nile. The military warns of RSF snipers positioned in apartment blocks overlooking Sudanese army positions.
Omdurman’s once-thriving market lies in ruins, stripped bare by looters, as military vehicles dominate the streets. Despite the mass exodus of over three million people from Khartoum State in the past 11 months, some residents, primarily the elderly, remain defiant.
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