El Gezira descended further into chaos on Wednesday as renewed fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensified.

The clashes, concentrated in the south, west, and north of El Gedaref, involved ground battles, airstrikes by the SAF, and accusations of drone attacks.

Pro-army social media circulated footage of their apparent capture of Medina Arab, west of Wad Madani. However, sources report a swift SAF withdrawal from the area, casting doubt on the extent of their control. Similar confusion surrounds Sunday's battles in El Gedaref, with some pro-army pages accusing the SAF of abandoning the fight.

The conflict has taken on a wider dimension with reports of rebel groups allied with the SAF, including the Sudan Liberation Movement factions led by Minni Minawi, Jibril Ibrahim, and Mustafa Tambour, participating in the offensive against the RSF.

Both sides continue to release unverified reports of victories. The RSF claims to have repelled an attack on El Faw, inflicting heavy losses on the SAF and allied forces. However, the Sudan War Monitor disputes this account, placing the actual fighting zone deeper inside El Gezira.

The ongoing violence has claimed innocent lives. Civilian Resistance Committees confirmed the deaths of two civilians in the village of Sharif Yagoub due to shrapnel from the clashes.

Reports from El Hasaheisa locality paint a grim picture. Residents fleeing the RSF attacks over the weekend allege displacement of many families, with an estimated 28 dead and hundreds wounded. The wounded struggle to receive proper care due to severe shortages of medicine and medical staff at El Managil Hospital.

Furthermore, the El Hasaheisa Resistance Committees accuse the RSF of a three-day siege on a village, accompanied by looting, theft, and violence against civilians. Residents reported stolen cars, money, gold, and even agricultural crops. The RSF allegedly forced residents to transport stolen goods under threat of violence. Radio Dabanga was unable to obtain comment from the RSF regarding these accusations.

The escalating conflict has drawn international condemnation.  On April 2nd, citing recent bombing raids and attacks in El Fasher and El Gezira, US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello expressed concern about civilian casualties, injuries, and displacement. He emphasized that Sudanese civilians continue to bear the brunt of this "heinous war" and urged an immediate end to the violence.

The situation in El Gezira remains fluid and dangerous. The competing narratives and unverified reports highlight the difficulty of piecing together a clear picture of the battlefield. One thing is certain: the ongoing clashes threaten to further destabilize the region and inflict immense suffering on innocent civilians. (ILKHA)