Sat Jan 25 03:54:52 UTC 2025: ## Sudan’s Largest Oil Refinery Engulfed in Flames Amidst Civil War

**Dubai, UAE (January 25, 2025)** – Satellite imagery confirms that Sudan’s largest oil refinery, located north of Khartoum, was engulfed in flames on January 24th, 2025. The fire, which sent plumes of black smoke over the capital, is the latest devastating consequence of the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese military and the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Both sides traded accusations, with the Sudanese military blaming the RSF for deliberately setting the refinery ablaze, while the RSF countered that the military dropped barrel bombs on the facility. Neither side provided evidence to support their claims. The refinery, jointly owned by the Sudanese government and China National Petroleum Corp., had a capacity of 100,000 barrels of oil per day and had been under RSF control since April 2023.

The fire, visible in satellite images from Planet Labs PBC and NASA, caused extensive damage to the complex. The resulting smoke poses significant health risks to the population of Khartoum. The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, expressed deep concern over the escalation of fighting and urged both parties to cease actions with dangerous consequences.

The conflict, which began in April 2023, has already claimed over 28,000 lives and displaced millions. International mediation efforts, including a US assessment of genocide committed by the RSF, have so far failed to stop the fighting. China, Sudan’s largest trading partner before the war, has yet to publicly comment on the incident. The ongoing instability stems from a protracted period of political turmoil following the 2019 ouster of long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir.

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