Darfur Follow-ups – Khartoum
Sudanese police said on Saturday that a member of the regular forces opened fire on a patrol while being stopped, resulting in his death and the injury of two personnel at a major market in Omdurman.
The incident sparked fear and panic in Omdurman, which has become the most active of the three cities in the capital in terms of economic and commercial activity, and the most populous.
In a statement, police said a “joint patrol” stopped a member of the regular forces returning from operational areas, who was carrying a weapon and moving inside Sabreen Market in Omdurman while the patrol was carrying out its routine duties.
The statement added that the serviceman fired live rounds at the patrol after being instructed to comply with standing orders prohibiting weapons inside the market, leading to his death and the injury of two patrol members.
Joint patrols, composed of army, police, and General Intelligence Service personnel locally known as “Tawaf” patrols regularly move through Khartoum to combat negative phenomena, including the use of shisha (hookah), the carrying of weapons, and the arrest of individuals accused of collaborating with the Rapid Support Forces.
These patrols sometimes clash with members of the regular forces carrying weapons, particularly those returning from combat zones.
The statement noted that the Omdurman Local Security Committee intervened to contain the situation, with the injured transferred to hospital and the body of the deceased serviceman handed over to his unit.
The police spokesperson described the incident as “accidental,” stressing that coordination among security agencies remains strong, and that the overall security situation across Khartoum State remains stable.
Authorities have been working to reimpose security since retaking Khartoum in May 2025, despite recurring shooting incidents linked to the widespread presence of weapons and armed groups allied with the army in parts of the state.
