Sudanese in Emirates speak of fears for their families at home

Sudanese citizens in the UAE fear that days of clashes in Khartoum will lead to fullblown conflict.

They worry that civil war will bring chaos throughout the north-east African country.

Awad Mustafa, 41, a Sudanese man who lives in Dubai and is a former journalist with The National, said his mother, two sisters and two brothers were at home in Khartoum’s neighbouring city of Omdurman. He said a family friend had been shot dead.

“It is a devastating blow to Sudan,” he told The National. “My family is in Omdurman city and they hear nearby gunfire and jets. The situation is absolutely catastrophic.

“Family friends had their daughter, a doctor, killed by a stray shot at her home in Khartoum. Her mother was injured by a bullet to her shoulder.”

Mr Mustafa said that although his family had stayed safe until now, uncertainty surrounded the days ahead.

“My niece was in school when the clashes happened, as it is exam time,” he said. “Her father managed to return her safely.

“My family gathered at my mother’s house and they managed to go to a supermarket to get food supplies but nobody knows what will happen tomorrow.”

Mr Mustafa, editor of regional security publication Defence and Security Middle East, said his country had turned into a battlefield.

“Nobody is controlling Khartoum now,” he said. “It is the first time in Sudan’s history to have an open war in Khartoum. It is gang war on the doorsteps of civilian people.”

He said he wanted his family to travel to Dubai until the situation in Khartoum was calm, but that airports were closed.

“There are no operating airports to get them out,” he said. “I call them every two or three hours. They still have electricity but most of the areas in Sudan have a shortage.

“We have friends and relatives stuck in Khartoum who can’t leave because the clashes are taking place near them and armed men from the army are roaming around with weapons.”

He said there was some hope that the situation may improve after former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok gave a TV interview in which he expressed optimism that an amicable resolution could be found.

“[My family] felt hope to end the situation peacefully after Hamdok’s interview but they were awake all night because of the sounds of explosions and bullets,” he said.

The fighting has followed weeks of tension between the army, led by military ruler Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, and the RSF, a powerful paramilitary group with roots in the feared Janjaweed militia that fought on the government’s side in Darfur in the early 2000s.

“We were expecting something will be happening but not in this way,” said Ahmed Saeed, 33, a Sudanese resident of Sharjah who works in the government sector.

“Street fighting, people fearing for their lives and staying at home without electricity … it is total chaos.

“My sister is living in Khartoum with her two daughters and husband. They didn’t sleep because of the fighting and don’t know what to do or where to go.

“I’m afraid this will go the way of Syria and Yemen.”

Nora Othman, 39, who lives in Dubai, says her family in Khartoum are in a terrible situation as explosions and gunfire reverberate around their neighbourhood.

“My nephew and niece are not eating because of fear and the sound of air strikes,” said Ms Othman.

“There is no electricity and the internet is switching off and on all the time.

“They have food for the moment but it is a danger to go out and the nearby supermarkets are closed.”

A Dubai resident said her nephew and niece in Khartoum were unable to eat owing to fear and the sound of air strikes