Raging Conflict: Fire and Explosion in Port Sudan's Petroleum Depot
Oil storage facility catches flame following paramilitary assault
The city of Port Sudan, currently serving as the temporary seat of the Sudanese government, has been hit by a series of events that began with a drone attack on Monday morning, resulting in a massive fire at the petroleum depot. This was followed by an evening explosion, leaving a government official to confirm the cause as "the ignition of one of the tanks, triggered by the spread of the fire."
According to reports by an AFP correspondent, the entire sky turned red after another detonation was witnessed later in the day. The Ministry of Energy had, earlier in the day, condemned this "terrorist attack" that targeted the largest fuel storage site in the region, expressing concern about a potential disaster in the area.
The source of the attack has been attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group engaged in a power struggle with the army since April 2023. The RSF has been increasingly relying on drones to strike deep into areas controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
The RSF's drone attack on Port Sudan on May 4, 2025, is a notable escalation of the conflict, marking a strategic reach for the RSF, utilizing modern technology to target key infrastructure and military positions. This tactic underscores the broader complexity of the ongoing conflict, which has already taken over 150,000 lives and displaced nearly 13 million people, plunging certain regions into famine, representing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises as per the United Nations.
The initial fire at the petroleum depot, along with the subsequent explosion, has caused thick black smoke to rise above the port city located on the Red Sea. The fires are said to have also spread to neighboring tanks.
It's important to note that, while specific details on the impact on the petroleum depot are not widely available, this conflict scenario can potentially disrupt critical infrastructure, affecting supply chains and logistics.
The ongoing conflict between the SAF and RSF started due to tensions over RSF integration into the regular army and resource control. The SAF, driven out of Khartoum by the RSF at the start of the war, had retreated east and transferred the government seat to Port Sudan. The city also hosts UN agencies and hundreds of thousands of displaced people. In late March, Khartoum was successfully reclaimed from the RSF paramilitary forces.
This series of events underscores the escalating and complex nature of the conflict in Sudan, with the RSF employing new and sophisticated tactics to maintain their struggle against the SAF. The country's struggle for power and resources continues to take a heavy toll on its people and infrastructure.
- The petroleum depot in Port Sudan, currently hosting the Sudanese government, was hit by a drone attack on Monday morning, culminating in an ignition of a tank and subsequent explosion on the same day in 2023.
- The RSF, a paramilitary group involved in a power struggle with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since 2023, is believed to be the source of the drone attack on Port Sudan in May 2025.
- The RSF's strategy in the ongoing conflict has evolved, with the use of drones to strike deep into SAF-controlled areas, as evidenced by the May 4, 2025, attack on Port Sudan's petroleum depot.
- The ongoing conflict in Sudan, marked by tensions over RSF integration into the regular army and resource control, has resulted in over 150,000 casualties and displaced nearly 13 million people, pushing certain regions into famine and creating one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
- The oil-and-gas industry, with its critical infrastructure like the petroleum depot in Port Sudan, may face disruptions due to the escalating conflict, potentially affecting supply chains and logistics.
- Despite the conflict's impact on infrastructure and real-estate (with Port Sudan hosting UN agencies and displaced people), the battle for power and resources persists, as the SAF, initially driven out of Khartoum, retreated east and established a temporary seat in Port Sudan.
- General news outlets and crime-and-justice reporters have extensively covered the war-and-conflicts in Sudan, keeping the world informed about the complex, multi-faceted nature of the conflict.
- The continuous escalation of conflict in Sudan, with its far-reaching implications on energy, finance, industry, and the wellbeing of its populace, highlights the urgent need for constructive politics and resolution towards peace.
