January 22, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s largest oil refinery was engulfed in flames on Thursday, sending thick plumes of smoke over the city of Bahri, as the country’s warring army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) traded accusations over who was responsible.
The Al-Jaili refinery, located about 70 km (43 miles) north of the capital Khartoum, is a crucial infrastructure in the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF in April last year.
The RSF seized the facility shortly after the outbreak of hostilities, having previously been part of the refinery’s security force. They later fortified the site, including laying landmines in the surrounding area to hinder the SAF’s advance.
In recent days, the army has intensified its attacks on the refinery, attempting to wrest control of the facility and the surrounding city of Al-Jaili.
By Thursday morning, heavy smoke could be seen billowing from the refinery, visible across Bahri and the neighbouring city of Omdurman.
SAF spokesman Nabil Abdallah, in a statement, accused the RSF, which he referred to using a derogatory term “the Daglo militia”, of setting fire to the refinery after being pushed back on multiple fronts.
“This is a desperate attempt to destroy infrastructure after failing to seize the country’s resources and land,” Abdallah said. He described the act as “hateful” and evidence of the RSF’s “criminality” and involvement in “unprecedented crimes and violations in the history of wars.”
The RSF, in turn, accused the army of targeting the refinery with airstrikes using “explosive barrels”.
“The continued aerial bombardment of the refinery, the latest of which was this morning, which led to the destruction of what remains of its facilities, represents a full-fledged war crime,” an RSF spokesman said in a statement.
The RSF condemned the alleged attacks as “barbaric” and called on international organizations to document the incident and hold the perpetrators accountable.
The Al-Jaili refinery, established in 1997, was Sudan’s largest before the war, which has caused widespread destruction, displaced millions and triggered a dire humanitarian crisis.
