A fire erupted at the Khartoum refinery in Al-Jaili on Thursday, with the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) trading accusations over the attack.
In a statement on X, the Sudanese army accused the RSF, led by Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, of intentionally setting fire to the refinery as part of a “desperate attempt to destroy the country’s infrastructure” after failing to seize control of resources and land.
The RSF, however, countered the claim, alleging that the army was responsible for the destruction, stating, “The ongoing aerial bombardment of the refinery, the latest of which occurred this morning, constitutes a war crime.”
The incident comes as Sudan remains embroiled in a violent conflict that began in April 2023, following a breakdown in relations between the army and the RSF, who had previously staged a joint coup in 2021 to overthrow Sudan’s civilian government.
Earlier this month, the army regained control of Wad Madani, a key city in the conflict. The recapture is seen as a potential turning point in the war, which has fueled ethnic violence and led to the world’s largest internal displacement crisis.
The fighting has plunged Sudan into a humanitarian disaster, with half the population facing severe hunger. Efforts to end the conflict remain elusive as both sides continue to blame each other for escalating violence.