Sudan-based rebel group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched suicide drones targeting Osman Digna Air Base, a military airport in Port Sudan, which has been operating as the de facto capital of the war-torn country.
The Sunday, May 4, strikes marked the first time that attacks by the militia have reached the city since the war broke out two years ago.
Although no casualties were reported, the attack resulted in damage to several warehouses and civilian service facilities. It, however, came just two days after a similar terrorist airstrike was launched targeting facilities in the city of Kassala.
In a statement after the attack, Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a pointed warning to the "regional nation" sponsoring the rebel group, urging the international community to intervene.
"This escalation by the rebel Janjaweed RSF militia and its regional sponsor reaffirms their determination to destroy infrastructure and service facilities essential for providing Sudanese citizens with a dignified life and well-being—a conduct condemned by international norms and laws," part of the statement read.
Reiterating its plea to the international community, the ministry asked that international laws be enforced to not only immediately stop the RSF activities but also compel its regional sponsor to stop availing of much-needed resources
According to the statement, this regional sponsor had provided advanced weapons, funding, and criminal planning, further fuelling the militia.
"While the Ministry strongly condemns and denounces this criminal and terrorist behaviour, it reiterates its call to the international community to urgently fulfil its duty in enforcing international laws to compel the terrorist militia to immediately cease these criminal acts targeting the Sudanese people, their stability, and the safety of their service facilities and infrastructure," part of the statement read.
"Furthermore, pressure must be exerted on the regional state sponsoring the terrorist militia to immediately halt its provision of advanced weapons, funding, and criminal planning, which aim to perpetuate chaos and threaten regional and international peace and security, violating all internationally recognised norms and laws upheld by peace-loving nations."
Although Kenya was not mentioned in the statement, tensions have been simmering between the two nations, with Sudan accusing the Kenyan government of sponsoring the rebel group after it convened in Kenya to reportedly form a parallel party in February, something that Kenya has vehemently denied.
Following reports that the militia was gearing up for another conference in Nairobi in April, the Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement condemning the decision and highlighting atrocities conducted by the RSF.
''While the Janjaweed RSF militia escalates its campaign of genocide against specific ethnic groups in Darfur—exemplified by its ongoing attack on the Zamzam camp for IDPs, which has claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians, including women and children—and while the militia continues to target vital civilian facilities across the country, reports are emerging that Kenya will host a second conference for the RSF terrorist militia and its affiliates in the coming days,'' part of the statement read.
''This follows previous meetings sponsored by the Kenyan presidency in February of this year, which sought to declare a so-called 'parallel government' for the genocidal militia and its followers.''
