Large Plumes of Black Smoke Over Port Sudan: City Under Siege by RSF Drones
The Unfolding Crisis in Port Sudan
Port Sudan, once a bustling Red Sea hub, now trembles under a wave of drone strikes by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In recent days, residents have watched in horror as towering plumes of black smoke rose from their city’s airport, hospital, and other civilian infrastructure—victims of an escalating air campaign that shows no signs of abating.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Attacks on Key Civilian Facilities
The RSF’s drone assaults have targeted the city’s lifelines: the international airport, the main referral hospital, and vital port installations. Satellite footage and eyewitness accounts describe multiple explosions in quick succession—each one sending workers scrambling for cover and ambulances racing into the smoking ruins.
Diplomatic Fallout and Accusations
In Khartoum, Sudanese officials publicly accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying the very drones used in the attacks. The allegations have sparked a diplomatic rift, weeks after the International Court of Justice dismissed a genocide claim against the UAE. Foreign Ministry spokesmen warn that such external involvement only deepens the conflict and undermines any hope for a negotiated settlement.
The Human Cost
As the sirens wail, thousands of Port Sudan residents—fishermen, merchants, and families—have fled to makeshift camps on the city’s outskirts. Aid agencies report shortages of water, food, and medical supplies. Hospitals, already overwhelmed by war injuries, struggle to treat new waves of casualties amidst frequent power cuts.
A City on Edge
“We live in fear every time we hear the drones,” says schoolteacher Fatima Osman. Shops remain shuttered; children huddle at home, their textbooks abandoned. Local businesses, from cafes to shipping agents, have paused operations, uncertain whether tomorrow’s dawn will bring relief or renewed bombardment.
Infrastructure in Ruins
The economic toll is mounting. Containers stacked at the port lie scorched; warehouses smolder. Port Sudan’s role as Sudan’s trade gateway teeters on collapse as trade routes grind to a halt and insurance premiums for shipping skyrocket.
Road to Recovery
Despite the havoc, a resilient spirit persists. The African Union has condemned the attacks and called for an immediate ceasefire. Humanitarian corridors are being negotiated to allow food and medicine into besieged neighborhoods. Local volunteers, undeterred by danger, ferry supplies in small fishing boats under cover of darkness.
Looking to the Future
Reconstruction plans are already taking shape: proposals for hardened shelters, early-warning sirens, and community first-aid training. Yet long-term recovery hinges on a broader peace process—one that addresses the root causes of the war and holds external backers accountable.
A Call for Peace
In the quiet moments between airstrikes, citizens of Port Sudan pray for an end to the bloodshed. “Our children deserve to grow up in safety,” says fisherman Khalid Hassan. Their voices—echoing over blackened ruins—are a stark reminder: the time for peace is now.
