Parts of Khartoum and a region north of the Sudanese capital were without electricity on Saturday following a drone attack against a hydroelectric dam, according to a statement from the national power company.
The attack on the power station of the Maroue Nile dam took place at dawn, according to the company. It said the attack damaged the station's chief power transformer, causing the power cuts. There was no word on casualties.
The national army accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of being behind the attack.
The attack followed threats made on April 3 by the RSF's second in command, Abdel Raheem Dagalo, that the paramilitary force planned to take its war against the national army to the north of the country, which has so far escaped the fighting ravaging Africa's third largest country since it began on April 15, 2023.
Mr Dagalo, brother of RSF commander Gen Mohamed Dagalo, said last week that 2,000 fighting vehicles were on their way to Shamaliyah state, where the dam is located. However, his claim was never independently verified.
The commander of an army infantry division stationed in Shamaliyah sought to reassure residents in a statement issued on Saturday, saying his men and members of allied groups were ready to defend the state.
"Don't be swayed by the malicious rumours spun by the militia's media which aim at undermining the security and stability of the state and its people,” said Gen Tareq Ahmed.
A ground offensive on Shamaliyah would be a milestone development in Sudan's war between the army and the RSF, dragging the home of the nation's traditional political and economic elite into the conflict for the first time.
Such an attack would also fit the RSF's claim that it is fighting to win equality and a fair share of resources for the "people of the margins”, the phrase commonly used to refer to residents of Sudan's outlying and impoverished regions such as Darfur and Kordofan.
Darfur is the birthplace of the RSF's forerunner, the Janjaweed militia blamed for abuses against civilians there, particularly ethnic African communities.
The Sudan war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced more than 12 million and left some 25 million facing acute hunger, with the threat of famine stalking areas across the Afro-Arab nation.
The RSF controls most of Darfur, which is the size of France, and parts of Kordofan to the south-west where it has entered an alliance with a powerful rebel group. Led by de facto leader and army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, the army currently controls the Sudanese capital along with the nation's eastern, northern and central regions.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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