In recent months, fighting between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has intensified in Sennar State in Sudan’s southeast. Initially a paramilitary force controlled by a faction of the Sudanese government, the Sudanese Armed Forces designated the RSF a rebel group after RSF attacks on government sites in April last year. Since then, the two forces have battled for control of the country.
@opalrose on Bellingcat’s public Discord server requested a tasking of the state capital city of Sennar.
In Planet Labs PBC SkySat imagery captured on August 31, the most noticeable features are agricultural flooding, a result of the unusually heavy rains that also caused a dam collapse in northwest Sudan.
North of Sennar City, what appears to be a checkpoint can be seen on Sennar Bridge.
SkySat imagery captured on August 31, 2024, by Planet Labs PBC.
Al Fashir is the largest city in the Darfur region and the last stronghold of the Sudanese Army in Darfur. Bellingcat previously reported on the fighting between the RSF and SAF and attacks on hospitals and the power station. Agricultural and urban flooding is also visible in the city, including around the market and residential areas of the Abou Shouk internally displaced refugee camp, an area where civilians have been targeted by the Rapid Support Forces.
While the satellite tasking captured the majority of the city, the northeastern part of Al Fashir is absent, where the Rapid Support Forces are keeping the city under siege and where civilians are heavily impacted.