Sudan Truce Extended, Strikes Persist
Thursday, Sudanese fighter jets attacked paramilitary positions in Khartoum, while fighting and looting flared in Darfur despite the army and a rival force extending a ceasefire agreement.
In the final hours of a cease-fire that had been repeatedly violated and was set to expire at midnight (2200 GMT), the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced a 72-hour extension in response to Saudi Arabian and American pressure.
Since fighting broke out on April 15 between the Sudanese army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary RSF led by his deputy-turned-rival, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, there have been multiple attempts at a ceasefire. Everyone has failed.
Foreign representatives attempting to end the fighting hailed the extension of the cease-fire agreement and urged its full implementation.
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In a joint statement, the African Union, the United Nations, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States praised the parties’ “readiness to engage in dialogue toward establishing a more durable cessation of hostilities and ensuring unimpeded humanitarian access.”
They stated that doing so could be followed by a de-escalation plan outlined in a 20 April peace plan.
“We welcome the announcement by the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces to extend the ceasefire in Sudan for an additional 72 hours,” tweeted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Extreme shelling exterior
Witnesses reported that on Thursday, warplanes flew over the northern suburbs of the capital while fighters on the ground exchanged artillery and heavy machine gun fire.
“I hear intense shelling outside my home,” a Khartoum resident told AFP anonymously on Thursday evening.
The fighting has resulted in at least 512 deaths and 4,193 injuries, according to the health ministry, but the actual death toll is likely to be significantly higher.
More than two-thirds of hospitals are inoperable due to shelling, according to the doctors’ union, which reported at least eight civilian deaths in Khartoum on Wednesday alone.
According to the World Food Program, the violence could cause millions more to suffer from hunger in a country where 15 million people, or one-third of the population, require assistance.
Thursday from Port Sudan, Abdou Dieng, the U.N. aid chief in Sudan, stated that he was “extremely worried about the situation,” with food supplies being a major concern.
Violence outside of Khartoum
In addition, fighting has erupted in the provinces, especially in the war-ravaged western region of Darfur.
According to witnesses, fighting continued for a second day in the capital of West Darfur, El Geneina. With pro-democracy medics reporting the death of a doctor.
“We are unable to assess the extent of the damage because we are unable to leave our homes due to safety concerns,” said a resident who requested anonymity for safety reasons.
According to the U.N.’s humanitarian agency, fighting in West Darfur has deprived an estimated 50,000 severely malnourished children of food.
The violence has confined a large number of civilians to their homes. Where they have endured severe food, water, and power shortages.
Those who could afford it have fled the country via a treacherous and lengthy journey.
Egypt announced on Thursday that at least 14,000 Sudanese refugees and 2,000 people from 50 other countries had crossed the border since fighting broke out.
After entering Egypt, Ashraf, a 50-year-old refugee, told the opposing generals, “Stop the fighting.” “This is your conflict, not that of the Sudanese people.”
At least 20,000 people have fled to Chad, 4,000 to South Sudan, 3,500 to Ethiopia, and 3,000 to the Central African Republic. According to the United Nations, which has warned that up to 270,000 people could flee if fighting continues.
War crimes suspect escapes
Foreign governments have scrambled to evacuate thousands of their citizens. And British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly urged Britons to flee while they still have the opportunity.
The latest Saudi evacuation ship docked in the Red Sea port of Jeddah on Thursday. Bringing the total number of people evacuated by Riyadh to 2,744. With only 119 of them being Saudis, according to the foreign ministry.
As lawlessness has engulfed Sudan, there have been multiple jailbreaks. Including from the high-security Kober prison where former dictator Omar al-Bashir’s top aides were being held.
Ahmed Harun, wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes. And crimes against humanity in Darfur, is among the fugitives.
Harun’s escape sparked concerns regarding the participation of Bashir loyalists in the ongoing conflict.
The army reported that Bashir, 79, was in a military hospital before the outbreak of fighting.
Daglo’s RSF originated from the Janjaweed militia. Which is accused of committing atrocities during Bashir’s mid-2000s brutal suppression of ethnic minority rebels in Darfur.
Bashir was overthrown by the military in April 2019. In response to civilian mass protests that raised hopes for a democratic transition.
The two generals seized power jointly in a coup in 2021. But later fell out over the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army.
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