Uncle Mirghani: The Moment the April 15 War Broke Out Was “A Grim and Terrible Day”

Moatinoon – Khartoum
Uncle Mirghani Idris left his well-established home in central Khartoum and traveled west to the city of El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State—his hometown—to spend the month of Ramadan among family and relive memories of better days.

He stayed with his son in the Al-Shuwaihat neighborhood, in the heart of the “Bride of the Sands,” where he was warmly welcomed. After a month spent under the shade of trees and over its soft sand came the 26th day of Ramadan—April 15, 2023. In that moment, the joy of awaiting Eid al-Fitr, which was just six days away, turned into a nightmare. War broke out, shattering the city’s calm with the thunder of artillery and the crackle of gunfire. Fear spread through the streets and into homes; life was thrown into disarray, and anxiety gripped the trembling neighborhoods.

Uncle Mirghani says:
"I did not expect the war to break out, but we were shocked when bullets began pouring down like rain over the house, piercing the zinc roof. At that moment, we had no way to protect ourselves except by hiding under beds and covering ourselves with mattresses."

He continues:
"We mistakenly thought it would only last a short while—that the madness of weapons would subside and the guns would fall silent. But by the afternoon, when we stepped into the street during a brief lull, we realized it was a real war that might last a long time. We saw combat vehicles and armed men everywhere, along with the sound of artillery and rising smoke."

Uncle Mirghani goes on to recount the terrifying scenes, saying that stray bullets claimed lives, and civilians fell with severe injuries. People were forced to walk cautiously along walls to avoid heavy gunfire from DShK and Kalashnikov weapons. Recalling those early days, he adds:

"An hour felt like an eternity. Markets and government offices emptied, people rushed back to their homes, while hospitals and medical centers filled with the wounded and the blood of innocents. It was a grim and dreadful day that remains etched in my memory to this moment."

His account does not stop at the outbreak of war but extends to its aftermath. He says:
"The character of the city changed. It became saturated with light and heavy weapons, and the greatest danger was concentrated around Station 13 in the far west of the city, where the Rapid Support Forces were based."

In neighborhoods adjacent to that large complex, danger inside homes became greater than outside. Streets and roads turned into battlefields where clashes intensified. This situation forced Uncle Mirghani, along with many others, to leave El-Obeid for the relatively quiet town of Al-Nuhud.

He continues:
"We left the Bride of the Sands in haste. There, our relatives and community embraced us with love. We spent days that eased the exhaustion of the difficult journey. In Al-Nuhud, we welcomed Ramadan and observed fasting for the second time since the war began, in relative safety."

Shortly after Eid al-Fitr, tragedy struck again when the Rapid Support Forces attacked Al-Nuhud, killing civilians, committing abuses, and looting shops and warehouses in broad daylight.

Amid this chaos and fear, Uncle Mirghani was forced to flee once more.

"We took an unsafe and dangerous-filled route. We rode on four ‘karo’ carts—traditional means of transporting goods, but in those circumstances used to carry people—under the protection of armed guards hired a fried from attacks by locals known as ‘shafshafa’ (bandits)."

The convoy moved along an unfamiliar path through acacia trees, hashab, and lalob forests. The feet of those fleeing the horrors of war were pierced by thorns, adding physical pain to their suffering. Upon reaching the area of Umm Tabaq, they switched transport, boarding an old pickup truck instead of the carts. Women were tied with ropes on the back of the vehicle, like luggage—a deeply unfamiliar and painful sight, but one they were forced to accept under the harsh conditions of war, as millions sought survival by any means possible.

Uncle Mirghani continues:
"During the journey, which lasted four days and nights, we passed through مناطق known on the map of fierce battles, including Al-Nuhud, Al-Khawi, Umm Tabaq, Wad Shaifun, Fawja, and Awlad Bakhit. In these quiet places, we encountered generosity that reflected the true character and authenticity of the Sudanese people and their deep-rooted tradition of hospitality."

They eventually reached the outskirts of El-Obeid again—more than a year and three months after they had left it. But they did not stay long. Soon, they continued their journey by bus to Kosti and then onward to Khartoum.

Uncle Mirghani concludes:
"I have now witnessed the third Ramadan of the April 15 war, which has entered its fourth year, here in the capital, Khartoum."