The war in Sudan

Jubilation in Kadugli after SAF takes over the city

The national army SAF is being greeted with jubilation after taking over the state capital Kadugli, in South Kordofan in Sudan, reports The Telegraph. Clips are being circulated on social media in which locals are seen standing with their arms in the air along the roads as soldiers drive through the city.

– Congratulations to our people in Kadugli on the arrival of the army, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is reported to have said on Tuesday, according to the newspaper.

The takeover is considered important because of the rainy season expected in May. Then it may become virtually impossible to move troops in the mountainous terrain and therefore control of the roads becomes more important.

The city has been besieged by the paramilitary force RSF for most of the civil war. On Tuesday, they are said to have attacked a health facility in the city, killing eight civilians, three of whom were children, army sources told AFP.

Report: Egypt is being drawn deeper into the Sudanese war

Advanced Akinci drones have been seen on remote airstrips in Egypt, Reuters reports. Now local officials and experts say that this indicates that the country is being drawn deeper into the conflict in Sudan.

The country has supported the national army SAF in the conflict against the paramilitary force RSF. Among other things, "logistical and technical support" has been provided to the forces, but the country refrained from direct involvement until last year after the RSF's advances in Darfur. The New York Times satellite images and witness accounts indicate that the drones have carried out attacks in Sudan for the past six months.

Two security officials have told Reuters that two airports in southern Egypt have been militarized for the past eight months to "protect national security." Satellite images show large drones on the runways on September 29, December 28 and January 9.

At the same time, the escalation has reportedly led to threats of retaliation from RSF, according to The New York Times.