Authorities Destroy Thousands of Shells and Mines at Military Base in Khartoum

Sudan’s National Mine Action Center announced on Saturday that it had destroyed thousands of shells, anti-tank mines, armored vehicle mines, and ammunition at the Wadi Saydna Military Base in Omdurman, Khartoum State.

The army successfully removed unexploded shells, anti-tank mines, and internationally banned anti-personnel mines planted by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia in several areas during its control of Khartoum State.

Major General Khalid Hamdan, Director of the Mine Action Center, said in a press statement, that “the center carried out detonation and destruction operations for 4,500 shells and anti-tank landmines, as well as a quantity of ammunition of various calibers in the Wadi Saydna Military Zone.”

He indicated that the center plans to dispose of 50,000 shells and anti-tank mines, as well as a quantity of various ammunition during the current month, while the waste collection process is still ongoing.

Last July, the center destroyed approximately 14,000 shells, where the detonation operation carried out on Saturday was the second of its kind since the army recaptured Khartoum State.

Hamdan explained that the center continued to receive reports of remnants of war, unexploded ordnance, and foreign objects throughout the day. He stated that demining teams are widely deployed to collect and deal with remnants of war, noting that the anti-personnel minefield discovered in the Acacia forest in central Khartoum “is difficult to move from one place to another, as efforts are being made to dispose of it by detonating it on the spot.”

Hamdan warned citizens against approaching the minefield in the Acacia forest, urging them not to engage in any activities within the forest until it is cleared of mines. He also urged residents not to touch any unexploded ordnance found in homes.

It is worth noting that at least 49 people have been killed and 51 others injured by unexploded ordnance.