The Truth Perspective: Merowe Dam: Maintenance Completion and Gradual Restoration of Power
Ibrahim Shglawi
The Merowe Dam stands as one of Sudan’s most prominent developmental and strategic projects, embodying the nation’s aspirations to develop the energy sector and achieve economic growth. However, the recent attacks on its power station and transmission line by drones, reportedly carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), raise critical questions about adherence to international humanitarian law in protecting civilian infrastructure. Additionally, they spotlight the implications of this military escalation on national security and the country’s stability. This article examines these dimensions, representing a significant development in the Sudanese conflict that erupted on April 15, 2023, following an attempted coup led by the RSF and its domestic and regional supporters to seize power.
The Merowe Dam holds strategic and developmental importance due to its location in the Northern State, 350 kilometers north of the capital, Khartoum. Completed in 2009, the dam was built to achieve a range of developmental objectives. It serves as Sudan’s primary source of electricity, generating about 1,250 megawatts, covering 45% of the nation’s electricity needs. It also protects the Northern State from Nile floods and supports agricultural and industrial projects reliant on its 176-kilometer-long reservoir.
Moreover, the dam enjoys a highly strategic location, forming a critical part of Sudan’s infrastructure that connects various states. Its presence has created opportunities to enhance food security and develop productive sectors, making it a cornerstone of sustainable development efforts.
This week, the Merowe Dam witnessed a series of drone attacks that caused damage to its main power station, leading to power outages in several states, including Khartoum and Port Sudan. According to technical reports from electricity authorities corroborated by military sources, the attacks targeted transformers and other vital facilities, despite air defenses intercepting some of the attacking drones.
These attacks are part of a systematic military campaign targeting strategic infrastructure. The RSF announced their “Plan B,” underscoring the gravity of their actions. Although international law criminalizes targeting civilian assets, the repeated use of this tactic reveals an intent to undermine the national economy and destabilize the country, including disrupting electricity networks that power large parts of Sudan’s agricultural and industrial production, as well as water supply services like Al-Manara station in Khartoum State, which serves the densely populated areas of Omdurman and Karari.
The RSF’s targeting of the Merowe Dam constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, particularly Article 52 of Additional Protocol I of 1977, which prohibits attacks on civilian objects not directly contributing to military operations. Such actions also qualify as war crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. These violations necessitate an international investigation to hold the RSF accountable for actions that endanger civilian lives and jeopardize national infrastructure, including the electricity grid relied upon by millions of Sudanese citizens.
The repercussions of targeting the Merowe Dam extend beyond direct material damages, weakening Sudan’s ability to maintain its economic and social stability. As a central hub of the national electricity network, any power outage significantly impacts various sectors, including agriculture, industry, public services, and healthcare. Such attacks exacerbate citizens’ suffering amidst severe economic crises and hinder efforts to achieve peace, development, and security.
Additionally, targeting civilian facilities raises concerns about Sudan’s ability to safeguard its critical infrastructure. Despite advanced defense systems at the Merowe Dam, the increasing frequency of attacks highlights the need to reassess protection strategies, enhance security coordination around the dam, and safeguard transformer stations and transmission lines through monitoring and control systems, which were operational even under normal circumstances within the Sudanese Transmission Lines Company’s security framework.
These attacks underscore the urgent need to review national security plans to protect civilian and strategic infrastructure comprehensively in line with emerging challenges. This requires greater investment in developing air defense systems, fostering regional and international cooperation to counter drone threats—a preferred weapon in modern conflicts—and identifying launch sources to address them in compliance with international law.
Furthermore, addressing the roots of the crisis demands intensified efforts to end the war in Sudan, decisively neutralize the RSF, and permanently close their chapter. Restoring the path of political dialogue that ensures the inclusive participation of all parties in shaping the country’s future is crucial. Continuing hostilities not only threatens developmental projects like the Merowe Dam but also risks the disintegration and collapse of the entire country.
In this context, a responsible source within the electricity administration confirmed that work is underway to repair the electricity transmission line, especially the Merowe-Al-Markhayat line, following the completion of maintenance at the Merowe Dam transformer station. The source added that intensive efforts by maintenance teams aim to restore electricity as soon as possible, expecting service to resume in the coming hours, alleviating citizens’ suffering and stabilizing affected areas.
In conclusion:
From our perspective, targeting the Merowe Dam serves as a grave warning about the dangers of military escalation on civilian assets and national infrastructure. Preserving such assets remains an integral part of national security strategies Sudan must adopt to ensure its stability and prosperity amidst escalating challenges.
Wishing you well and in good health.
Friday, January 17, 2025.
Shglawi55@gmail.com