SUDAN: Army, paramilitaries trade blame over oil refinery attack

The Sudanese army and rival paramilitaries traded blame on Thursday over targeting a major oil refinery north of the capital Khartoum, where clashes between the warring sides have intensified. Eyewitnesses reported seeing thick plumes of smoke covering the area around Al-Jaili refinery about 70 kilometres (40 miles) from Khartoum. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) […]

SUDAN: Army, paramilitaries trade blame over oil refinery attack

sudan map.

The Sudanese army and rival paramilitaries traded blame on Thursday over targeting a major oil refinery north of the capital Khartoum, where clashes between the warring sides have intensified.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing thick plumes of smoke covering the area around Al-Jaili refinery about 70 kilometres (40 miles) from Khartoum.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had claimed since the first month of the war, in April 2023, to be in control of the refinery.

In a statement, the army alleged that the RSF “deliberately set fire” to the facility in an attempt to destroy Sudan’s infrastructure after failing to seize control of the country’s “resources and land”.

The RSF, however, blamed the military for the destruction, accusing it of targeting the refinery with barrel bombs during air strikes in the morning.