Battle of the Onion
Observations on fighting south of Khartoum (June 1, 2023)
Clashes occurred in the vicinity of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Taiba Camp near Jebel Aulia on Thursday, June 1st. Both sides subsequently claimed control of the camp. Several vehicles were captured or destroyed on each side.
RSF fighters referred to the day’s fighting as the “Battle of Taiba” or “Battle of the Onion” — a mocking reference to claims that Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) soldiers are eating onions while the RSF soldiers feast on meat. One video taken in the area showed RSF soldiers pulling onions out of the pocket of a prisoner.
Although it is clear there was fighting, it is misleading to suggest that there was a pitched battle for control of the camp. Taiba camp was bombed in the first days of the war, so RSF are unlikely to be staying inside it for fear of being attacked from the air. They are more likely to be maneuvering in the countryside and towns around Jebel Aulia and Taiba.
Therefore, the fighting was not as intense as the two sides are making it out to be. Propagandists on both sides are exaggerating the smallest victories and downplaying any setbacks. The information environment is very poor and there are persistent disinformation operations by both parties, as well as general confusion in online spaces about what is happening.
The clashes in Taiba could be related to the movement of SAF reinforcements from the south. Elements from as many as three infantry divisions have been moving toward Khartoum. Using video taken by a citizen at Waghra (وغره) village (15.2105006, 32.6938494), I identified one of these forces as the 18th Infantry Division based in Kosti. This force consisted of at least 25 vehicles and 250-300 men. However, that is just the number that appeared on the video. According to another source, the number of vehicles sent from Kosti was 65. If that is the case, it likely represents about half the fighting strength of the 18th Division, if not more. A typical SAF division should consist of several thousand men, but historically they are understrength. Prior to the outbreak of the current conflict, there is reason to believe that SAF divisions were substantially degraded owing to years of political upheaval, low pay, and low morale.
Regarding RSF movements, unofficial RSF media sources stated that they sent forces to perform reconnaissance against the incoming forces. One recent video depicted an RSF convoy in a rural area outside Khartoum. The video shows ten vehicles and it dates to May 31st, the day before the clashes in Taiba area.
Several other videos indicate that the RSF ambushed and captured a handful of SAF prisoners, whom they interrogated for information about the origin and size of the incoming SAF forces. The prisoners were threatened, humiliated, and abused. An RSF officer pointed a pistol aggressively in the face of one prisoner while ranting and recording a propaganda video. Later that same prisoner and another were bound in a painful manner and put in a truck where they were whipped while being called dogs.