In a significant development, the ongoing conflict between the two rival factions within the Sudanese military has spilled over into the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. This marks the first time such clashes have occurred in the five months of conflict.
Sudanese soldiers engaged in gunfire with members of a tribal militia group known as the “Forces of the Eastern Sudan Parties and Movements Alliance.”
The confrontation arose as the troops attempted to dismantle checkpoints established by this group in the city’s center on Monday.
Port Sudan is a crucial location as it hosts Sudan’s sole operational airport. Additionally, the city has become a hub where some government officials and UN agencies have relocated due to the ongoing violence in the capital, Khartoum, and other parts of the country.
The protracted clashes between the Sudanese army and rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have resulted in a significant loss of life, with thousands of casualties since the violence erupted in Khartoum in April.