Tensions escalated in Khartoum, as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continued their assault on the Sudanese army’s general headquarters for the second consecutive day, according to eyewitnesses.
A fire has engulfed one of the city’s most famous landmarks, the 18-floor tower of the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company.
This pyramid-designed, glass-fronted building is one of the most recognizable features of Khartoum’s skyline.
Architect Taghreed Abdeen, one of the building’s designers, expressed her anguish on the social media platform “X”, saying, “This is truly painful.” Abdeen mentioned the tower was visible from any part of Khartoum’s horizon and lamented the “senseless destruction.”
The cause of the fire in the cone-shaped, glass-fronted structure remains unclear. No immediate reports of injuries or casualties were received.
On Sunday, millions of Sudanese residents still in the city woke up to smoky horizons, with the sounds of bombs and gunfire echoing throughout their nation’s capital.
The “Sudan War Monitor” organization, which provides conflict analysis, reported that the RSF attacked areas controlled by the army on Saturday, including an administrative building at the Ministry of Justice.
Numerous government buildings were reported to be ablaze due to the offensive. Witnesses told the France Press Agency that the assaults on army headquarters continued into Sunday, saying, “All types of weapons are being used in clashes around the army’s command.”
Explosions could be heard in the Mayo area, south of Khartoum, where the army targeted RSF bases with artillery fire.
Last week, at least 51 individuals lost their lives in an airstrike on a market in the Mayo area, as reported by the United Nations, marking one of the deadliest attacks in this conflict. Despite a two-week lull, the fighting resumed around the general headquarters on Saturday.
The ongoing conflict between different factions has led to several eruptions of violence in the past.
The current clash between the Sudanese army and the RSF further exacerbates the unstable situation in the region, drawing international attention and concern for civilian safety.
