Al Jazeera Net correspondents
Khartoum – Saw areas west of the city Wad Madani sorties For the Sudanese army Following violent clashes on Wednesday evening with Rapid Support Forces On the western side of it, the army forces withdrew as a result.
The battles began with skirmishes by the Rapid Support Forces on the borders of the “Medina Arab” area, west of Wad Medani, where an army force is stationed 8 kilometers away.
The clashes moved from the east to areas about 21 kilometers west of the city of Wad Madani, and extended for hours, after which the army forces withdrew to their focus areas west of the city.
The Rapid Support Forces arrested a number of citizens from their homes in villages west of Wad Madani, and there were reports of their property being “looted” and “assaults” on them, before they were released hours later.
Military and local sources told Al Jazeera Net that these forces are targeting the city of Al-Manaqil, which is approximately 60 kilometers west of Wad Madani, and where Sudanese army forces are stationed.
Strategic importance
Al-Manaqil is an economic city, and includes a number of factories, grain mills, and other projects in the west Gezira State Where food and economically beneficial crops are grown.
Its strategic importance also highlights the fact that it links the west of the Gezira State to my state Khartoum And the White Nile via asphalt land roads.
The Rapid Support Forces’ control over large areas in Al-Jazira State since December 18 has affected its economic and health sectors.
Since the incursion of these forces during their attack on the city of Wad Madani in the areas of Umm Alila, Abu Haraz, and Hantoub, Umm Alila fuel depots have stopped, and the cotton gins in Abu Haraz have been idle.
The Umm Alila area – which is about 12 kilometers east of the city of Wad Medani – includes the main fuel depots for the state of Al-Jazira.
For its part, the Unit for Combating Violence against Women and Children revealed reliable reports of at least two cases of sexual violence in Gezira State following the Rapid Support’s control of the state in the middle of last month.
The unit said – in a press statement – that there are reports of other cases that the unit was unable to verify due to the security conditions on the island.
She confirmed that there had been cases of threats of sexual violence and blackmail against citizens “from Rapid Support members” in various areas of the state, and that its expansion into the villages and cities of the state of Al-Jazira represented “a direct threat to women and girls who were unable to leave.”
