Global Courant 2023-04-21 14:40:08
The World Health Organization said at least 413 people have been killed and 3,551 injured since the violence between the army and paramilitary forces six days ago.
After the failure of two ceasefires in two days, gunfire and explosions continued on Thursday night and until Friday morning, shortly before the announcement of the new 72-hour Eid ceasefire. (AFP)
Sudan’s warring forces clashed again in the country’s capital early Friday, with shelling and shelling in various parts of the capital Khartoum, despite earlier reports that paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire on humanitarian grounds.
“Many areas of Khartoum were bombed on the night of Eid al-Fitr and are still subject to shelling and clashes between the armed forces and the RSF,” the Sudanese Central Committee of Doctors quoted the AFP news agency on Friday.
“We call on all citizens to be vigilant, stay at home, close doors and windows, and lie down. We also call on these forces to be responsible and immediately stop fighting to protect innocent lives.”
Violent clashes could be heard amid the call to prayer in Sudan’s capital, where mosques are expected to hold their morning services inside to protect worshipers, the AP news agency reported on Friday.
Witnesses later said that some morning services were canceled due to the clashes.
As the fighting escalated, the World Health Organization reported that at least 413 people were killed and 3,551 injured on Friday since the violence there six days ago.
Earlier, it was reported that the RSF had agreed to a ceasefire coinciding with the Eid al-Fitr to “open humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens and give them the opportunity to greet their families.”
Reuters news agency also reported that before the announcement, Khartoum was shaken by bombing and shelling.
There was no immediate comment from the military, and its commander, General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, did not mention the ceasefire in a pre-recorded speech posted on the army’s Facebook page.
We are confident that we will overcome this ordeal with our education, mind and strength, protecting the security and unity of the state, and ensuring that a safe transition to civilian rule is entrusted to us.”
On Thursday, Sudan’s chief of staff refused to meet with his opponent, but said he was open to mediation.
According to the military statement, Burhan received separate calls from Turkish President Erdogan, the Saudi and Qatari foreign ministers, the Egyptian intelligence chief and the United States, and called for a temporary ceasefire.
As the fighting escalated, Burhan said he dismissed any possibility of negotiations with RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. Al Jazeera TV said it saw no other option but “decisive military” action.
“I don’t think there is room for renegotiation of politics with the Emergency Support Forces,” he told the Qatar-based broadcaster, adding that he is open to mediation.
READ MORE: Sudan army excludes talks as Turkey, UN, Arab countries call for Eid ceasefire
READ MORE: UN chief calls for ceasefire in Sudan over Eid al-Fitr
hundreds of deaths
Armed clashes continued into Thursday night as columns of black smoke rose from buildings around Khartoum International Airport and army headquarters after two ceasefires failed to be reached in two days.
Eyewitnesses reported loud explosions beyond Khartoum in the city of Obeid in the central North Kordofan province.
A group of doctors said at least 26 people were killed and 33 injured here on Thursday. Witnesses described clashes between the army and RSF troops and widespread looting.
It has been reported that large numbers of people have crossed to Chad to escape the fighting in the western part of Darfur.
Violence erupted after weeks of deepening tensions between military leader Al Burhan and his deputy paramilitary commander Daglo over the planned integration of Daglo’s RSF into the regular army.
The World Food Program has warned that in a country where 15 million people – a third of the population – already face food insecurity, violence could drive millions more to starvation.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a ceasefire for civilians to reach safety.
After meeting virtually with the heads of the African Union, Arab League and other organizations on Thursday, Guterres told reporters: “There was a strong consensus to denounce the ongoing conflict in Sudan and to call for cessation of hostilities as an urgent priority.”
Administration officials said as this situation develops, the US military is moving assets to a base in the Horn of Africa country of Djibouti for a possible evacuation of American Embassy personnel.
Japan and South Korea are also sending military planes to evacuate their citizens, and the Netherlands has also sent their own planes to Jordan.
Even before the conflict, nearly a quarter of Sudan’s people faced severe hunger, but the World Food Program halted one of its largest global operations in the country after three of its workers were killed on Saturday.
Sudan borders seven countries and is strategically located between Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Africa’s unstable Sahel region, so hostilities risk fueling regional tensions.
READ MORE: Turkey mediates ceasefire in Sudan conflict
Source: TRTWorld and its agencies
