The Sudanese army and rival paramilitaries traded blame on Thursday over targeting a major oil refinery north of the capital Khartoum, where clashes between the warring sides have intensified.

The Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Thursday accused each other of attacking the Khartoum refinery in Al-Jaili. The army and the forces led by commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo have traded blame since the civil conflict erupted almost two years ago,

KHARTOUM. – Sudan’s government and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) traded accusations yesterday over a fire at the Khartoum oil refinery, a key piece of infrastructure that has been under RSF control since fighting erupted in April.

The RSF, for its part, claimed on Wednesday that its fighters had confronted an attack by the Sudanese army near the Al-Jeili oil refinery. The facility is Sudan's largest oil refinery and has been controlled by the RSF since the eruption of the current conflict in April 2023.

The Sudanese army said Wednesday it had launched a multi-pronged attack reaching areas near the Khartoum oil refinery, 70 kilometres (43 miles) north of the capital. It is the first time the army has reported a presence near the strategic facility since the conflict began in April.