WAD MADANI: A crucial Nile bridge connecting Khartoum’s sister cities of Khartoum North and Omdurman has been destroyed, marking a significant blow in the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Both the army and rival paramilitaries have issued separate statements, trading blame for the destruction of the strategically important Shambat Bridge.
Eyewitnesses on the ground reported “clear signs of destruction on the Shambat Bridge,” a vital crossing over the White Nile. Unverified images circulating online depicted a section of the bridge missing about halfway across the river, with damaged vehicles strewn across the remaining structure.
Sudan’s army, under Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, released a statement accusing “the rebel militia” of destroying the Shambat Bridge early in the morning, adding what they termed as “a new crime to their record.” The army’s statement placed blame squarely on the opposition forces for the collapse of the strategic infrastructure.
Damage to Infrastructure in Sudan
In response, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Burhan’s former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, refuted the accusation and instead accused the “Burhan terrorist militia” of being responsible for the destruction. The RSF asserted that the bridge was destroyed by the army forces, led by Burhan, in an attempt to undermine their capabilities.
This recent incident follows previous hostilities in August when airstrikes and artillery fire, attributed to army forces loyal to Burhan, targeted the Shambat Bridge. The paramilitary factions had reportedly utilized the bridge as a crucial supply route, according to a local resident and military expert cited by AFP news agency.
