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Battle of Merowe Airport

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Battle of Merowe Airport
Part of theSudanese civil war (2023–present)
Date15–21 April 2023 (6 days)
Location
Merowe Airport,Merowe,Sudan
Result

SAF victory

  • RSF captures Merowe airport on April 15
  • SAF captures the airport on April 19, and RSF retreats from Merowe on April 21
Belligerents
Sudanese Armed Forces
Egypt		 Rapid Support Forces
Casualties and losses
204 POWs Unknown

Thebattle of Merowe Airporthappened in April 2023 during theSudanese civil war.It involved fighting between theRapid Support Forces(RSF) andSudanese Armed Forces(SAF) for control of the city ofMeroweand its airport, and began with the RSF taking over 200Egyptiansoldiers asprisoners of war.

Background

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On 11 April 2023, RSF forces deployed near the city of Merowe and inKhartoum.[1]Government forces ordered them to leave, but they refused. This led to clashes when RSF forces took control of the Soba military base south of Khartoum.[1]On 13 April, RSF forces began their mobilization, raising fears of a potential rebellion against the junta. The SAF declared the mobilization illegal.[2]

Battle

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At noon on April 15, RSF forces claimed to have capturedMerowe Airport.[3]In their statement, they claimed to have captured several Egyptian soldiers at the airport as well, along with a plane with markings of theEgyptian Air Force.[4][5]While initially no official explanation was given for the Egyptian soldiers' presence, Egypt later stated around 200 of their soldiers were conducting exercises with the Sudanese military.[6]

The next day, at around 13:30 local time, the SAF announced the rescue of amajor generaland abrigadier,along with the arrests of multiple officers at Merowe airport. The SAF also claimed the capture of the airport, with videos showing army vehicles storming the base.[7]The army also claimed several RSF leaders had deserted or surrendered to the SAF.[3]Some RSF members that deserted brought the Egyptian prisoners with them.[3]

Fighting broke out the next day west of Merowe Airport, and by 10:00 AM local time, the RSF claimed to have full control over the airport.[8][9]On April 18, eyewitnesses reported seeing an RSF column heading away from the perimeter of the airport towardsal-Multaqafollowing SAF airstrikes on the airport.[10]By April 19, the SAF had regained full control over the airport, although it had been destroyed.[11]The RSF still claimed to have a presence in other parts of Merowe. The Sudanese Army gained full control over Merowe by April 21.[12]

Aftermath

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The RSF claimed on April 17 to aid in efforts to repatriate the Egyptian prisoners of war. However, the group announced that they had moved the soldiers to Khartoum on April 19 and would hand them over when the "appropriate opportunity" arose.[13]Of the 204 Egyptian troops taken prisoner, 177 were flown back to Egypt that same day. The remaining 27 soldiers sheltered at the Egyptian embassy in Khartoum.[14]

On 29 November 2024, the SAF claimed that the RSF used 16 suicide drones in an attempt to attack the airport. SAF states that all 16 suicide drones have been destroyed.[15]

References

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  1. ^abSudan: clashes around the presidential palace, there are fears of a coup attempt in Khartoum – videoArchived15 April 2023 at theWayback Machine,15 April 2023.
  2. ^"Fears in Sudan as army and paramilitary force face off".Al Jazeera.Archivedfrom the original on 14 April 2023.Retrieved2023-04-15.
  3. ^abcالسودان.. اشتباكات عنيفة بين الجيش وقوات الدعم السريع (لحظة بلحظة).Al Jazeera(in Arabic).Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2023.Retrieved2023-04-16.
  4. ^"Sudan's RSF says its ready to cooperate over Egyptian troops".Reuters.15 April 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2023.Retrieved2023-04-16.
  5. ^"Sudan paramilitary group says it has seized presidential palace and Khartoum airport amid clashes with army – live".The Guardian.15 April 2023. Archived fromthe originalon April 18, 2023.
  6. ^"Sudan's paramilitary shares video they claim shows 'surrendered' Egyptian troops".al-Arabiya.15 April 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 15 April 2023.Retrieved15 April2023.
  7. ^"عناصر من الجيش ينشرون صورا لدخولهم قاعدة مروي العسكرية #السودان #العربية".Archivedfrom the original on 17 April 2023.Retrieved16 April2023.
  8. ^"Clashes reported west of Merowe's airport".Al Jazeera.Archivedfrom the original on 17 April 2023.Retrieved2023-04-17.
  9. ^"Rapid Support extends its full control over Marawi Airport".Twitter.@RSFSudan.Archivedfrom the original on 18 April 2023.Retrieved17 April2023.
  10. ^"Relative calm at Merowe airport: AJ correspondent".Al Jazeera.Archivedfrom the original on 18 April 2023.Retrieved2023-04-18.
  11. ^"Fighting rages in central Khartoum on the fifth day of clashes".Al Jazeera.Archived fromthe originalon April 19, 2023.Retrieved2023-04-19.
  12. ^"The Sudanese army has imposed complete control over Marawi".Twitter.Archivedfrom the original on 23 April 2023.Retrieved2023-04-21.
  13. ^"Egyptian soldiers in Sudan moved from airbase – RSF".BBC.19 April 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 17 April 2023.Retrieved19 April2023.
  14. ^"Egyptian air force personnel remain in Khartoum: Sudanese army corrects earlier statement".Aljazeera. 20 April 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 20 April 2023.Retrieved20 April2023.
  15. ^"Sudanese army downs 16 suicidal drones in north region city – Altaghyeer NewsPaper".

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