General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) primary naval base, Flamingo, located in Port Sudan, is under heavy attack from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as the ongoing civil war intensifies. On Thursday, the RSF launched multiple drone strikes against the base, which has become a temporary headquarters for the SAF due to heavy fighting in Khartoum, according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed media.
This marked the fifth consecutive day of RSF attacks on the base. SAF spokesman Nabil Abdullah confirmed that anti-aircraft missiles intercepted most of the drones, preventing significant damage to the base itself. However, the strikes have ignited fires at nearby oil facilities and a power station.
The RSF drone campaign, which began on Sunday, also targeted the Osman Digna Air Base warehouse and other civilian structures in Port Sudan. Explosions were reported after an ammunition depot at the air base was hit.
The Flamingo base, established in the 1960s under Sudan’s first military ruler, Ibrahim Abboud, is a key strategic site due to its location along the Red Sea. It houses naval docks, an army camp, and officers’ quarters. The base has been upgraded multiple times, notably in the 1970s with Yugoslavian support.
Strategic Importance and Foreign Interests
Flamingo’s significance has only increased over the years, particularly following a 2017 agreement between Sudan’s then-dictator Omar al-Bashir and Russia, granting Moscow permission to establish a military base near Flamingo. Although the deal was frozen after Bashir’s ousting in 2019, Russia’s efforts to revive the agreement in 2020 have continued to fuel geopolitical tensions in the region. The naval base became a flashpoint for US-Russian rivalry in 2021, with both nations sending warships to Port Sudan.
Despite this, Sudanese authorities dismantled Russian military infrastructure at the base in 2021, suspending the agreement until it received legislative approval.
Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis
The RSF’s current offensive on the Flamingo base comes amid escalating violence between SAF, led by Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The two military factions have been locked in a power struggle since April 2023, which has spiraled into full-scale warfare. The conflict has led to over 150,000 civilian deaths, with millions more displaced.
Both factions have been implicated in widespread atrocities throughout the war. SAF, under Burhan’s command, have been accused of conducting airstrikes on civilian areas, including markets and refugee camps, as well as executing summary executions of civilians suspected of supporting the RSF. Additionally, SAF forces have been linked to the destruction of entire neighborhoods in Khartoum, further exacerbating the suffering of displaced families.
Meanwhile, the RSF has been accused of using brutal tactics against civilians, including sexual violence, forced displacement, and the use of child soldiers.
The international community has condemned both sides for committing war crimes and human rights violations. The humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to worsen, with critical shortages of food, medicine, and basic services. Rights groups have called attention to the suffering of civilians, particularly women and children, amid the ongoing violence.
