Global Courant 2023-04-21 08:36:11
World leaders have called on Sudan’s warring factions to observe a ceasefire ahead of Eid al-Fitr, which begins Friday.
The Sudanese paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has announced that it will soon begin a ceasefire despite continued heavy fighting with the army in the capital Khartoum.
The RSF said in a statement that it would observe a 72-hour ceasefire, which would take effect at 06:00 (04:00 GMT) on Friday, marking the start of the Muslim holiday of Eid al- Fitr.
“The ceasefire coincides with the blessed Eid al-Fitr, and to open humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians and give them a chance to greet their families,” the statement said.
Khartoum was rocked by heavy shelling in the early hours of Friday, with the RSF accusing the army of staging a “broad assault” on the capital.
There was no word from the military whether it would also impose a ceasefire.
Since the violent power struggle that broke out over the weekend between the army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, there has been a series of failed ceasefires.
Thousands of civilians have fled Khartoum and large numbers of people have also moved to Chad to flee the fighting in the western region of Darfur.
Al-Burhan and Dagalo previously formed an alliance as leaders of Sudan’s ruling military government.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was one of the prominent international leaders who recently called on warring parties to observe a three-day truce on Eid and move civilians to safety.
At least 350 people have been killed in the fighting so far.
