By Prof. Bill Michael
A Sudanese army air strike has killed at least 22 people in western Omdurman, the Khartoum state health ministry said on Saturday, July 8th, 2023. I put emphasis on the two words “at least.” Why not tell the world that more people were killed than the figure announced? This leads to another question which is: How many days so far has the fighting been going on in Sudan? It is 86 days. For how long will the fighting go on? Is it going to be 186 days?
Perhaps the military strategy of the de facto ruler of Sudan General Abdel Farrah Al- Burhan is to focus on the western part of the city of Omdurman. That section of this historic city is a vital supply line for the RSF, or the Rapid Support Forces. This means that more raids will be launched on Omdurman often. More civilians will be killed by the Sudanese Army in that city. The Sudanese Army raids will go from Omdurman to Darfur. The supply lines of military reinforcements for the RSF extend all the way to Western Sudan. The agony of Darfur will be repeated very soon, with mass killings occurring. The United Nations has categorized the strife in Darfur as a genocide.
On the other hand, military analysts are still debating as why the Sudanese Army keeps launching continuous raids on Omdurman. It is due to the fact that the Rapid Support Forces control the grounds. The Sudanese Army has control over the Sudanese Air Force. The RSF will keep controlling the grounds despite these air raids. In other words, the raids on Omdurman indicate that the war is shifting in favor of the RSF.
The Sudanese Army will be desperate soon. Omdurman can determine who will be the winner in the fighting between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces.
Worse, the Sudanese Army is targeting other areas in Omdurman. This includes the city’s radio and television buildings. For sure, there is a great collateral damage to other parts of that city, but it is not made public.
Strangely, the Sudanese Army wrote on its Facebook page that “special forces had killed 20 “rebel soldiers” and destroyed their weaponry.” But, for sure, many of them were civilians. How many civilians have been killed by the Sudanese Army so far?
This relates to other questions as well. How many hospitals does Omdurman have? How many doctors and nurses does this city have? How many doctors and nurses have been killed by the raids of the Sudanese Army inside and outside Omdurman?
The media is not silent on the tragedy of Sudan. For example, according to BBC, “A Sudanese army air strike on the capital has killed at least 22 people and injured many others, eyewitnesses and an official have said.” A fair question is how many people exactly were injured? Were their women and children among those killed and injured in this raid by the Sudanese Army?
The battle of Omdurman could be “The Mother Of All Battles.” If the world cares to inquire as what is causing Sudan’s agony and destruction, it is better to look at the tragedy of Omdurman. Protecting Omdurman and other cities in Sudan could be the beginning of peace in Sudan and the foundation of the stability of this country.