The area of Al-Madina Arab, located south of Sudan’s Al-Gazira State, on Sunday, witnessed an exchange of artillery fire between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) near the areas of Wad Rabia and Al-Zakirin, North and East of the city of Al-Manaqil.
Both the Army and RSF reinforced their presence in the area, with the army bolstering its presence North of Wad Rabia, while RSF deployed their troops in the Al-Zakirin area to attack the city of Al-Manaqil from the north.
The two sides exchanged artillery fire intensively, with the sound of artillery explosions heard around the villages scattered between Al-Manaqil and the city of Al-Hasahisa.
Several citizens expressed their deep concern about the escalation of military operations, turning villages into war zones, and shells falling around them.
Amir Abdulrahman, a citizen, told Radio Tamazuj that the security situation had deteriorated significantly due to the intensified artillery shelling and exchange of gunfire between the two sides, turning the area into a battlefield and resulting in numerous civilian casualties.
Abdulrahman pointed out the worsening food situation and the disruption of electricity, water, and communication services, exacerbating the lives of citizens in those villages. He noted that power outages occur in areas controlled by RSF, urging them to allow engineers to address these issues.
Abdulrahman called on the Red Cross and international organizations to urgently intervene to restore electricity and water services.
“The established norm in the laws of war is to open pathways for the evacuation of civilians, but the situation in Sudan is different,” he said, pointing out that civilians are subjected to looting, humiliation, and whipping by RSF.
Another citizen, Mohammed Yusuf, told Radio Tamazuj that the security situation in the area had deteriorated as a result of the increased intensity of military operations between the Army and RSF.
Yusuf urged the government, RSF, and organizations to intervene to open safe passages for civilians to prevent them from becoming victims of the ongoing artillery exchanges.
On another note, a citizen from Al-Hilaliya city in Eastern Al-Gazira state confirmed the calm situation there, stating that the city enjoys stability and security, with efforts underway to return life to normal. Similar sentiments were echoed by multiple sources to Radio Tamazuj, confirming the calm situation in the city.
The citizen, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “There are signs of state institutions beginning to take shape,” adding, “The area benefits from free medical treatment, and there is a strong inclination to reopen schools after the end of the Eid holiday.”
He mentioned that social and cultural activities are progressing well, noting that the Al-Ahli Club in the city organized several cultural and religious nights at the end of Ramadan. He explained that citizens in the city celebrated Eid in a normal manner.
However, he pointed out that there are some incidents in the city, controlled by RSF since last December, which are being addressed and resolved.
A group of dignitaries and leaders from the city had reached an “agreement” with the RSF aimed at coexisting with the forces that seized control of the city.
Last March, RSF announced the formation of a civil administration in Al Gazira State, stating that it was formed through elections.