Sudan Nashra: Abiy Ahmed visits Port Sudan | Source: Military prepares to strike RSF rear lines to cut off supplies | RSF nears South Sudan, Ethiopia borders

Port Sudan hosted Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday in the first visit by a foreign head of state to the city since the war broke out in Sudan over a year ago.  

Port Sudan is now effectively Sudan’s administrative capital as Khartoum continues to witness active combat.

Ahmed's two-hour visit, during which he was welcomed by Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairperson and Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, followed a series of secret meetings in which Sudanese and Ethiopian officials discussed the strained relationship between the two countries, a source in the Sudanese Foreign Ministry told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity.

The heads of state got together amid an advance by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sennar State near Sudan’s borders with South Sudan and Ethiopia, and amid an escalation of military tensions in the disputed Fashaga region along the Sudanese-Ethiopian border in Gadarif State.

Meanwhile in Moscow, Sudanese Foreign Minister Hussein Awad continued a visit in which the official is seeking wheat and fuel supplies, while putting the finishing technical touches to a long-delayed military cooperation agreement between Russia and Sudan. 

The agreement, stalled since the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019, established a plan, yet to be realized, for the construction of a logistical supply center on the Red Sea coast in Port Sudan — a proposal put forth by Russia — in exchange for the supply of much-needed  ammunition and weapons for the Sudanese Armed Forces.

Diplomatic delegations have traveled back and forth between the two countries since May to revive military and economic bilateral cooperation protocols.

On the military front, a source in the Transitional Sovereignty Council told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity that Burhan met with senior military leaders in Omdurman to discuss battlefield developments, as the military faces mounting losses, particularly in the southeastern state of Sennar. 

The source said that last week's meetings focused on strategies to cut off the RSF's supply lines from Sudan’s west, including targeted strikes on the paramilitary’s rear lines  which could potentially expand into neighboring countries like Chad and the Central African Republic. 

Politically, the Cairo Conference brought together the Civil Front for Democracy and the Democratic Bloc on Saturday but saw disputes between the two political factions over the wording of the conference’s closing statement, with the groups at odds over whether or not to condemn both warring parties for the violations committed against civilians during the war. 

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Burhan discusses field developments with military leaders in Omdurman

Burhan told the press this week that the military is achieving "invisible victories" in the ongoing conflict, a statement that is contradicted by growing concerns over the Sudanese military’s continued loss of strategic positions, particularly in the eastern and central states. 

The RSF has expanded in the central regions of the country, including the states of Sennar, Gezira, Blue Nile, and West Kordofan, with Burhan’s apparent lack of concern sparking debate in Sudanese circles.

A military source told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity that Burhan's reference to "invisible victories" was in allusion to a purely military assessment of the situation that addresses the RSF's losses in both equipment, personnel and morale, as well as internal disarray and failing external partnerships.

A source in the sovereignty council told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity that Burhan convened with top military commanders in Omdurman last week to discuss the latest battlefield developments and promotions within the military. The source said that the meeting also produced alternative military strategies to counter the RSF and cut off its western supply routes.

The source added that the military is preparing for a counteroffensive targeting the RSF’s rear lines, which secure their supply routes.

The source noted that it has proved challenging for the military to control the supply outlets utilized by the RSF, which are primarily located in Chad and the Central African Republic. It has been difficult for Sudan’s military to obtain ammunition and maintenance equipment for its vital assets, the source said, especially following the loss of the Yarmouk Military Industrial Complex in the Shagara military area in August, and the subsequent disruption to Sudan’s arms industry.

The source said that the military is working to secure alternative supply lines to support its ongoing operations. However, the RSF and their backers are obstructing the arrival of military shipments, according to the source.

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Sudanese foreign minister in Moscow

Potential wheat and oil supplies to Sudan came up on the agenda of Foreign Minister Hussein Awad, who has been in Moscow since July 5 with a delegation of senior officials, including high-ranking figures from the Sudanese General Intelligence Service. 

The visit comes amid progress on a long-stalled deal between Russia and Sudan which includes the latter establishing a logistical center on Sudan’s Red Sea coast. 

A diplomatic source within the Sudanese Foreign Ministry told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity that the purpose of the visit is to discuss the latest developments in joint cooperation projects and to establish a clear roadmap for implementing the commitments made by both parties.

The source predicted that the visit would yield positive outcomes, particularly in economic cooperation, noting potential oil flows to Sudan and wheat imports.

Talks on military collaboration have also progressed during the visit, with a military source telling Mada Masr on condition of anonymity that Sudan and Russia have finalized the technical agenda for establishing the planned Russian logistical supply center in Port Sudan.

In 2017, now-ousted President Omar al-Bashir inked a cooperation protocol with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, during the Sochi Summit to establish a military base in the Red Sea. Yet, when current Transitional Sovereignty Council head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan assumed the presidency of the Transitional Military Council, the project was suspended. 

However, steps to revive the agreement have been taken since May, with a sovereignty council source telling Mada Masr in June that work was ongoing to safeguard the interests of both countries, particularly with regard to mining and military collaboration. 

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Burhan reiterates commitment to Jeddah Declaration during Saudi deputy foreign minister’s visit

On Monday, Burhan received Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Walid al-Khuraiji, in the first high-level visit by a Saudi official to Sudan since the outbreak of war.

The meeting showed Saudi Arabia's ongoing commitment to the Sudanese government, a source in the Sudanese Foreign Ministry told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity.

An informed source in the Transitional Sovereignty Council told Mada Masr that Khuraiji discussed with Burhan various options for restarting the Jeddah talks and potentially achieving a complete end to hostilities.

However, Burhan expressed disapproval of resuming negotiations without adherence to the Jeddah Declaration signed in May 2023, the source said. Burhan stressed the need to pressure the RSF to fulfill their obligations, arguing that mediation efforts alone will not force the RSF to comply. 

Furthermore, the source said Burhan reiterated that the Sudanese military and government are open to ceasefire negotiations, but not at the cost of allowing the RSF to impose its agenda and conditions, benefit from its crimes, or fortify its position through ongoing violations.

Burhan told Khuraiji that the RSF is not waging a war, but rather acts of terrorism and armed plundering of civilian properties and public funds, the source said.

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Ethiopian prime minister visits Port Sudan

The day after Khuraiji’s visit, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed landed in Port Sudan on Tuesday with a high-level delegation.

The visit, which only lasted a few hours, marks a significant diplomatic moment as the Ethiopian government’s stance has shifted notably following recent diplomatic visits by the Sudanese Foreign Ministry and high-level intelligence communications between the two countries 

Ethiopia and Sudan had engaged in secret meetings multiple times in preparation for the meeting between Burhan and Ahmed in Port Sudan, which was officially requested by the Ethiopian prime minister, according to the source in the Sudanese Foreign Ministry.

The visit addressed several critical issues, including the longstanding border dispute over the Fashaga region. The Ethiopian side stressed their desire to avoid escalation, stating that a peaceful path would prevent regional conflict, according to the source.

Burhan, on his part, reiterated Sudan's claim to the disputed territory, and assured Ahmed that Sudan would not engage in any aggression against Ethiopia’s borders and would not contribute to the country’s instability. Burhan emphasized Sudan's commitment to fostering peace and positive relations, the source said.

A source informed of the visit’s proceedings told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity that Ahmed proposed the involvement of African and international institutions to build an alternative path toward sustainable peace in Sudan.

The source added that the Ethiopian prime minister stressed the importance of Sudan's territorial integrity and sovereignty, linking Ethiopia's security to Sudan's, and hence their efforts to end the war. The two sides also addressed border security and the issue of Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia.

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Dispute among Sudanese parties attending Cairo Conference

Though it gathered two currents in Sudanese politics for the first time since the outbreak of the war, a dispute arose during the closing proceedings of the Cairo Conference for intra-Sudanese dialogue, which was organized by the Egyptian government last weekend and attended by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Atty and other senior officials. 

Parties attending from the Civil Front for Democracy and the Democratic Bloc were at odds regarding the wording of the conference’s final statement.

A source in the Civil Front for Democracy told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity that a group of Sudanese facilitators attended discussions with the committee tasked with drafting the closing statement, and witnessed the debate which took place. As a result, the facts of the dispute cannot be obscured by “campaigns to fabricate a narrative,” the source said. 

Representing the Democratic Bloc in Cairo were Transitional Sovereignty Council Deputy Chair Malik Agar, Minni Arko Minnawi of the Sudan Liberation Movement (Minnawi), and Justice and Equality Movement leader Gibril Ibrahim.

Several other parties in the bloc were also represented, including the Democratic Unionist Party, led by Deputy Chair Jaafar al-Mirghani and the National Umma Party, led by Mubarak al-Mahdi.

The civil front source said that the conference’s closing statement was drafted by a joint committee consisting of six members from the Democratic Bloc and five from the Civil Front for Democracy.

According to the source, just 20 minutes before the statement was due to be read aloud, Ibrahim, Minnawi and Agar rejected the formulation without explanation. 

Appearing to justify the rejection however, Minnawi stated on X that “the final statement failed the Sudanese people, particularly the victims [of the violations]” by not naming the RSF as perpetrators. Minnawi said the bloc “has no interest in a statement that lacks empathy for the [Sudanese] people.”

But according to the recollection of the Civil Front for Democracy source, the front proposed that the statement should condemn violations committed over the course of the conflict by both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces, a suggestion that the Democratic Bloc rejected, proposing instead a condemnation of the violations without naming the responsible parties.

Regardless of the dispute, the source said that the Cairo Conference was an important step in broadening the base of forces calling for an end to the war. More voices are calling for peace day by day, they continued, anticipating that Egypt’s government would soon call for another meeting of political and civil forces, especially after the convergence of views in the recent conference, which the source described as a step toward reaching an agreement on ending the war and delivering humanitarian aid.

However, a source in the Democratic Bloc told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity that, while the Cairo talks were significant, the conference lacked any forward momentum. Some representatives from Sudan’s full spectrum of political and social forces were absent, the source added, affecting the overall atmosphere of the conference.

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RSF near South Sudan, Ethiopia borders

Last week saw both lulls and flare-ups on the various battlefronts between the Sudanese military and the RSF. 

The RSF continued to perpetrate violations against civilians in the Gezira and Sennar states, as well as the cities of Fasher, Omdurman and Khartoum.

Sennar State was the most active hotspot for military operations over recent days. Clashes intensified as the RSF sought to expand following its capturing of the state’s capital, Singa, last week. 

The military, on the other hand, defended key points and attempted targeted operations to deplete the RSF's resources.

Battles are ongoing to the west around the strategic Jebel Moya, north toward the Sennar Sugar Factory and Wad al-Haddad area, northeast at the strategic Doba bridge, and southeast in the Dinder region, which is located near Sudan’s border with Ethiopia. 

The RSF managed to gain control over significant parts of Dinder following intense skirmishes.

A former Sudanese military officer told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity that South Sudan and Ethiopia have sensitive and close ties with Sudan. These countries emerged from similar conflicts, the source said, and are anxiously monitoring the rapidly evolving and complex events in Sudan.

 A field source told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity that the military’s Air Force conducted intense barrel bomb strikes on RSF gatherings in Jebel Moya on Tuesday, causing substantial casualties and equipment losses.

The source said that there have been limited skirmishes in recent days at the Doba bridge, northeast of Sennar, where the military maintains control over the area which secures Sennar city’s eastern villages and the route to Gadarif State.

Meanwhile, the Dinder Emergency Room reported that the RSF continued its assault on villages in the region, terrorizing, killing and displacing civilians. The RSF attacked the Wad Sharara village, west of Dinder, and besieged the Takambari village after looting vehicles, equipment and crops, committing further violations in Qula and nearby villages north of Dinder.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Dinder Emergency Room reported an attempted RSF incursion into the Dinder National Park that was thwarted by the wildlife police. The statement warned that police forces in the park lack sufficient equipment to protect it from future attacks.

The Dinder National Park, located near the Sudan-Ethiopia border, is one of Africa’s most significant wildlife reserves. Established in 1935, it hosts rare species, including 27 species of small mammals, around 200 bird species, 32 fish species, and various reptiles and other animals.

Last week, the RSF seized Sennar’s capital, Singa, after taking control of the military’s 17th Infantry Division and several military areas, expanding into southern and southeastern regions of Sennar State, near the borders with South Sudan and Ethiopia.

A military expert told Mada Masr on condition of anonymity that the RSF's advance in these areas could open new avenues for military supplies and the involvement of more foreign mercenaries due to the regions’ delicate security and the presence of armed gangs and weapon trafficking.

In West Kordofan, near the South Sudan border, the RSF captured the military’s Meram garrison on Monday, following the armed forces’ withdrawal toward South Sudan.

Last month, the RSF began expanding in West Kordofan State after securing Fula, the state’s capital. However, the armed forces maintain control over key military bases in crucial areas, such as Nuhud city, where it has amassed substantial forces, including Sudanese Armed Forces troops, popular resistance forces, and allied tribal militias. The military also retains the 22nd Division camp in Babanusa.

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Military intercepts RSF drone attacks on military base in Shendi

Limited skirmishes continue across Sudan’s tri-city capital, Khartoum. 

Clashes erupted in the Ombada area and neighborhoods west of Omdurman’s alleys, where the military secured significant gains last week.

Local residents told Mada Masr that the RSF launched heavy artillery strikes at the Thawra neighborhoods north of Omdurman on Monday and Tuesday. Medical sources at the Nau Hospital told Mada Masr that one civilian was killed and six others were injured in residential areas hit by the RSF’s shelling in the area.

In the city of Bahri, northern Khartoum, the military reported that its forces at the Hattab operational base destroyed an RSF fuel tanker and several military vehicles, and captured three fully-equipped vehicles on Monday.

In Shendi city, adjacent to north Khartoum, the military’s ground defenses in the Third Infantry Division intercepted drone attacks targeting the city in the early hours of Wednesday. Eyewitnesses told Mada Masr that there were no casualties, with a widespread deployment of security and military forces.