Sudanese military chief Burhan survives assassination attempt

Sudanese military leader Lt. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who is currently engaged in conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), survived a multiple drone attack on Tuesday during a graduation ceremony for army soldiers at the Red Sea camp.

While Burhan is reportedly unharmed, there are injuries among his companions.

The drone attack is the latest in a series of such assaults on army locations in recent months, marking the closest incident to Port Sudan. The RSF, the army's rival in the ongoing war, has not claimed responsibility for the attacks and did not comment on the latest incident.

This strike comes a day after the army-aligned foreign ministry conditionally accepted a US invitation to talks in Switzerland scheduled for August. The RSF responded, stating it would only negotiate with the army and not with the Islamists who comprise a significant portion of the civil service.

In a related context, Sudan's warring factions, particularly the RSF, have been accused of committing extensive acts of sexual violence, including gang rape and forced marriages, in Khartoum since the conflict began.

Human Rights Watch revealed these accusations in an 89-page report titled "Khartoum is Not Safe for Women: Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls in Sudan's Capital."

Service providers supporting victims have received reports from women and girls of being held by the RSF in conditions that could constitute sexual slavery.

The report highlights the severe health and psychological consequences for survivors and the detrimental impact of attacks on healthcare services, alongside deliberate obstruction of aid by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

"The Rapid Support Forces have raped, gang-raped, and forced into marriage countless women and girls in residential areas in Sudan's capital," stated Laetitia Bader, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

"The armed group has terrorized women and girls, and both warring parties have prevented them from accessing aid and support services, exacerbating their suffering and making them feel that nowhere is safe."