Residents in the Sudanese city of Wad Madani claim that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed a hospital and took over an army post.
Hundreds of thousands of citizens have fled the turmoil in the capital, Khartoum, to this location.
Dallia Abdelmoniem, who lives in Cairo but has family in Wad Madani, spoke to the BBC’s Newsday about what transpired at the military installation.
“It’s an army stronghold, and the fact that the RSF was able to breach the army stronghold does not bode well,” she said.
“It means that, first of all, the RSF is feeling more confident in their abilities and that the war is expanding. And this is a safe haven. It wasn’t just a stronghold for the army. It’s also a safe haven for the civilians who left Khartoum. So in terms of civilian safety, it’s a catastrophe because they have no options; there’s nowhere to go.”
The world community is concerned that the war, which began in April, is spreading.
The US State Department urged the RSF to halt its march on Wad Madani over the weekend.
According to Washington, the group’s activities contradicted its claimed goal of defending Sudanese citizens.
There have also been rumours of increased violence in Nyala, Sudan’s western Darfur province.
