On Sunday 17 September 2023, a landmark skyscraper located near the River Nile in Sudan went up in flames amid civil war between the Sudanese army leaders and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The cause of destruction of the building has not yet been confirmed.
So far, there has not been any reports of injuries or deaths as a result of the burning of this building. This skyscraper was Sudan’s iconic landmark in Khartoum, and it housed The Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (GNPOC).
The destruction of this building saddened Tagreed Abdin, who was a Senior Architect for Greater Nile Petrolium Operating Co. back in 2006. “Such senseless destruction” destroyed a landmark project which defined the skyline of Khartoum, said Abdin on X as she expressed her disappointment in the destruction of her work.
“I’m so sorry. This must be so painful for you. I lived in Khartoum in 2004-2005 before this building was built, yet seeing it on fire still made me cry. The beautiful people of Sudan don’t deserve torture and destruction. They are such loving people. My heart is with you.”, says @harlickjen on X replying to the architect whom designed the currently destroyed skyscraper, @taggy.
This civil war between the Sudanese army leaders and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been ongoing since early April 2023, and today marks day 156 of the ongoing civil war.
According to the United Nations, about one million people had to flee the country due the current circumstances.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are in a battle against the Sudanese army leaders, to take control over the capital city of Sudan.
According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), within the past week, more than 103 Sudanese civilians have been killed, due to the ongoing civil war within Khartoum and Omdurman.
Part of the many difficulties Sudanese citizens have to face are war crimes. For women, sexual violence affects them. “I have been raped in front of my family members, and they couldn’t save me from the fell of the war criminals who viciously force themselves on me.”, says an unnamed Sudanese female victim of sexual assault.
“We thought perhaps, just perhaps, we have become hardened to pain. Yet once again, RSF makes us realise how much sorrow there is yet to feel for our country and capital. Political narratives cannot supersede the countless loss of lives, destruction and displacement we’ve all witnessed.”, says @ElbashirIdris on X.
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Written by: Prince Neo Mokwena
Images: @ElbashirIdris on X, Middle East Eye & Tagreed Abdin
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