Spain condemns attacks on civilian infrastructure in Sudan

LONDON

Spain condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure in Port Sudan on Tuesday amid ongoing fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Fires broke out at Port Sudan airport and the city’s southern port following a series of loud explosions earlier in the day.

The cause of the explosions remains unclear, but Sudanese authorities blamed an RSF drone strike on strategic oil depots for the blasts.

A statement by the Spanish Foreign Ministry described the attack as "a violation of international law and a threat to peace efforts."

"Spain reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire, the protection of the civilian population and respect for international humanitarian law," said the ministry.

Sudanese officials have repeatedly accused the RSF of launching drone attacks on civilian infrastructure, including power stations and other facilities, in northern cities such as Merowe, Dongola, Dabba, and Atbara. The RSF has not responded to the accusations.

Since April 2023, the RSF has been battling the army for control of Sudan, resulting in thousands of deaths and creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

More than 20,000 people have been killed and 15 million displaced, according to the UN and local authorities. Research from US scholars, however, puts the death toll at around 130,000.