At least 24 people have been killed and about 100 wounded in fierce battles that broke out on Tuesday across Omdurman, the western part of Sudan's wider capital.
The war in the African country is approaching its third month with no end in sight. The casualties were reported by the Al Naw hospital in Omdurman.
The army, led by Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, is reportedly trying to cut supply routes used by its paramilitary rivals, the Rapid Support Forces, led by Gen Mohamed Dagalo.
Violence between the two sides erupted in mid-April as the generals vied for control following a military coup that overturned an attempted power-sharing agreement with civilian-led political parties.
The war has now reignited simmering ethnic conflict across the country, including in Darfur, the scene of mass killings by government-linked militias about 20 years ago.
On Tuesday, the army launched air strikes and heavy artillery salvos, and there were ground battles in several parts of Omdurman, witnesses said.
The RSF quickly took control of large parts of the capital and has brought in extra fighters from Darfur and Kordofan as the conflict has deepened.
It transferred the reinforcements across bridges from Omdurman to Bahri and Khartoum, the other two cities that make up the wider capital across the confluence of the River Nile.
Residents said Tuesday's clashes in Omdurman were the heaviest in weeks.
As the army tried to gain ground, it was also fending off an RSF attack against a police base, they said.
“There has been very heavy bombardment for hours – air strikes, artillery and bullets. It is the first time for us that there have been continuous strikes at this level from every direction,” said Manahel Abbas, 33, a resident of Omdurman's Al Thawra district.
Saudi Arabia and the US brokered several ceasefire deals during talks in Jeddah. The talks were suspended last month after both sides breached the truces.
In a move that could escalate conflict in western Sudan, tribal leaders in South Darfur declared their allegiance to the RSF on Monday.
The RSF originated in Arab militias that helped to crush a rebellion in Darfur after 2003, before developing into a national and officially recognised force.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
