Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces says its fighters had staged a “surprise” attack on an airbase controlled by the army near the capital, destroying three aircraft and torching large warehouses.
There was no immediate word from the army on Monday's attack on Wad Sayedna airbase near Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman.
Khartoum International Airport, the only other air facility in the greater Khartoum area, was captured by the RSF in the early days of the war with the Sudanese army, which began in April.
An RSF statement said its fighters had destroyed two MiG fighter jets and an Antonov transport plane in the attack.
The airbase is west of Omdurman which, together with the cities of Khartoum and Bahri, comprise the greater capital of Sudan. It was extensively used in the early days of the war to evacuate foreign residents and is believed to have also been used by jet fighters bombing RSF positions.
Witnesses in Omdurman said columns of smoke were rising from the base.
Separately, a video released by the military late on Monday night showed army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan walking into what appeared to be a windowless conference room with eight senior officers.
A cheerful and smiling Gen Al Burhan, in camouflage clothing, shook the officers' hands and sat at the head of the table after he handed an automatic rifle to his aide.
Gen Al Burhan has made several public appearances since the war began.
In contrast, his war rival, RSF commander Gen Mohamed Dagalo, has not been seen in public since the early days of the war, fuelling speculation that he may have been seriously injured in battle. Instead, he has been releasing audio recordings, the latest of which was posted online on Monday.
The army has been heavily reliant on air strikes and artillery shelling in its war against the RSF, whose fighters are deployed deep inside residential districts of Khartoum where they are proving difficult to dislodge.
The shelling and air strikes are thought to have contributed significantly to the high number of civilian casualties. The Health Ministry last month said 3,000 civilians had been killed since the war broke out in mid-April, with twice as many injured. The actual figure, however, is believed to be much higher.
The RSF has to date claimed to have shot down about a half dozen army MiG-29 jet fighters.
These claims could not be independently verified, although in some cases the RSF posted footage online purporting to show blackened wreckage of aircraft. The army has never acknowledged the loss of any of its warplanes.
The war in Sudan followed months of tension between the army and the RSF over far-reaching reforms proposed by civilian pro-democracy politicians for the army to withdraw from politics and the paramilitary to be integrated into the armed forces.
The fighting, which is centred in Khartoum, has led to a humanitarian crisis. Three million people have been displaced, of whom more than 700,000 crossed into neighbouring nations in search of a safe haven.
Millions, meanwhile, are trapped in Khartoum, enduring the air strikes, shelling and crossfire, while suffering from lengthy power cuts, water shortages, scarce healthcare services and sharply rising food and fuel prices.
Neither side has shown a genuine appetite for a truce, altogether ignoring or not fully respecting several ceasefires mediated by the US and Saudi Arabia, preferring instead to continue fighting until they gain a clear edge that strengthens their hand if they end up at the negotiating table.
The fighting has continued in the capital, where the army said that on Saturday and Sunday the RSF hit the Medical Corps complex and the military-owned Aliaa hospital in Omdurman.
Aliaa, which treats both military and civilian patients, had also been hosting former dictator Omar Al Bashir, who was transferred there from prison before the start of the conflict.
Beginning on Friday, some of the most intense clashes were seen in Bahri, across the Nile from Omdurman and Khartoum, with the army trying to dislodge RSF fighters.
Gen Dagalo claimed a victory for his forces there in an audio recording posted online on Monday.
“The choice of peace and stability in Sudan has always been and still is our choice … Yet, we are prepared for the choice of war and ready to sacrifice ourselves to ensure a decent life for our people,” said Gen Dagalo, who is better known by his nickname Hemedti.
Reuters contributed to this report
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
HAJJAN
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on animal trafficking
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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25%20Days%20to%20Aden
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Abu Dhabi GP weekend schedule
Friday
First practice, 1pm
Second practice, 5pm
Saturday
Final practice, 2pm
Qualifying, 5pm
Sunday
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps), 5.10pm
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
