The ongoing clashes between Sudan’s military and a paramilitary force have resulted in a sharp rise in the death toll, with at least 97 civilians killed and 365 injured, as reported by a doctor’s group in Sudan, according to Reuters. Other sources suggest that the number of injured could be as high as 600.
The violence erupted on Saturday between army units loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who heads Sudan’s transitional governing Sovereign Council, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the council’s deputy head, as per Reuters.
Despite a three-hour ceasefire announced by the United Nations (U.N.) late Sunday afternoon, reports indicate that heavy explosions, gunfire, and airstrikes continued throughout Sunday night, with RSF locations being targeted.
On Sunday morning, downtown Khartoum witnessed heavy gunfire, particularly around Sudan’s military headquarters and the presidential palace, with both the military and RSF claiming control over these key areas.
Saliman Baldo, the director of Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker, an anti-corruption campaign, expressed deep concern over the situation, stating, “This looks like fighting to the finish.” Baldo also highlighted that attempts at mediation may face challenges as both generals have labelled each other as criminals and seem determined to continue the conflict.
The U.S. and British foreign ministers have called for an “immediate cessation of violence” in Sudan and urged the warring parties to return to the negotiating table. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly made the joint statement on the sidelines of the G-7 talks.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the fighting, particularly the deaths of three U.N. workers from the World Food Program, and has called for an immediate ceasefire between the warring groups. Guterres’ spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, emphasized the need to bring those responsible to justice swiftly. The statement also highlighted that United Nations and other humanitarian premises have been targeted and looted in several locations in Darfur.
As a result of the loss of its staff members, the World Food Program has suspended its operations in Sudan.
Abdulmuniem Abu Idris, the head of the Sudanese journalists’ syndicate, has made an urgent appeal to the warring parties to establish a safe corridor for around 12 journalists, including four women, who have been stranded in the Sudanese Kuwaiti business centre since Saturday morning. The Sudanese-Kuwaiti business centre, situated east of the presidential palace along the Nile River, is a hub for media outlets. Abu Idris has described the area as a “serious” confrontation zone between the military and the RSF and highlighted the dire need for basic necessities for the journalists and other civilians in the area.
Recent tensions between the army and the RSF are reportedly rooted in disagreements over the integration of the RSF into the army and who should oversee the process, as part of efforts to restore civilian rule in Sudan and resolve the political crisis triggered by a military coup in October 2021.
In response to the escalating violence, the African Union’s Peace and Security Council held an extraordinary meeting in Nairobi on Sunday, calling on the Sudanese military and RSF leaders to de-escalate the situation and restore stability. Arab League countries have also condemned the fighting in Sudan and appealed for calm.
Egypt and South Sudan have announced their intention to mediate between Sudan’s warring parties in an effort to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.