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Fighting surges in Sudan as three-day ceasefire nears end Fighting surges in Sudan as three-day ceasefire nears end
(34 minutes later)
Airstrikes in Khartoum and clashes beyond dashes hopes of lasting truce and threatens further evacuations Airstrikes in Khartoum and clashes beyond amid slim hope of ceasefire extension on Thursday night
Fighting intensified across Sudan on Thursday as a three-day ceasefire drew close to an end, with intense airstrikes in the capital Khartoum and widespread clashes in the country’s south-west dashing hopes of any more durable truce. Fighting intensified across Sudan on Thursday as a three-day ceasefire was due to end, with intense airstrikes in the capital, Khartoum, and widespread clashes in the country’s south-west.
The surge in violence threatens the evacuation of thousands of foreign nationals who remain in Sudan, and means no respite for exhausted civilians desperate for peace after 12 days of fighting that has killed hundreds and led to a looming humanitarian catastrophe in the country of 45 million people. On Thursday night there were slim hopes that the ceasefire could be extended. The Sudanese army agreed it would observe the current truce for a further 72 hours from the beginning of Friday. However, it was not clear if rival paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) would also support the ceasefire extension as violence surged.
The crisis in Sudan has pitted army units loyal to its military de facto ruler, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against the Rapid Support Forces, a coalition of paramilitaries led by a warlord called Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Both seek unchallenged control of Sudan’s crumbling state and resources. The fighting threatens the evacuation of thousands of foreign nationals who remain in Sudan, and means no respite for exhausted civilians desperate for peace after 12 days of fighting that has killed hundreds and led to a looming humanitarian catastrophe in the country of 45 million people.
An RSF statement accused the army of carrying out airstrikes on its forces on Thursday and spreading “false rumours”. In response, an army statement said its forces had taken control of most of the country’s regions but added “the situation is a bit complicated in some parts of the capital”, noting it was in the process of defeating what it called a large deployment of RSF. The crisis in Sudan has pitted army units loyal to its de facto ruler, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against the RSF, a coalition of paramilitaries led by a warlord called Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Both seek unchallenged control of Sudan’s crumbling state and resources.
An RSF statement accused the army of carrying out airstrikes on its forces on Thursday and spreading “false rumours”. In response, an army statement said its forces had taken control of most of the country’s regions but added that “the situation is a bit complicated in some parts of the capital”, noting it was in the process of defeating what it called a large deployment of RSF.
Residents of Khartoum and neighbouring Omdurman described picking spent bullets and shells from their roofs. Others spoke of burning homes and widespread looting.Residents of Khartoum and neighbouring Omdurman described picking spent bullets and shells from their roofs. Others spoke of burning homes and widespread looting.
“Is there a ceasefire? There’s none, that was just a talk … They will intensify the fighting until one side has won and they won’t care about people’s safety, God protect us,” said Mohamed al-Hajj, an artist in a neighbourhood of Omdurman which was particularly badly hit by airstrikes. “Is there a ceasefire? There’s none, that was just a talk … They will intensify the fighting until one side has won and they won’t care about people’s safety, God protect us,” said Mohamed al-Hajj, an artist in a neighbourhood of Omdurman that was particularly badly hit by airstrikes.
At least 512 people have now been killed and close to 4,200 wounded by the fighting since 15 April, according to the Sudanese health ministry – though the true total is likely to be much higher. At least 512 people have now been killed and close to 4,200 wounded by the fighting since 15 April, according to the Sudanese health ministry, though the true total is likely to be much higher.
The crisis has sent growing numbers of refugees across Sudan’s borders. About 14,000 Sudanese citizens have already entered Egypt, officials in Cairo said, and the UN reported about 20,000 have already reached Chad. The crisis has sent growing numbers of refugees across Sudan’s borders. About 14,000 Sudanese citizens have already entered Egypt, officials in Cairo said, and the UN reported that about 20,000 had already reached Chad.
Food, water and fuel is now expensive and scarce in Khartoum, and only 16% of health facilities are still functioning, according to the World Health Organization. The acute hardships and continuing fighting have led to a stream of civilians leaving the main city, seeking security overseas, in other cities or in outlying districts of the capital.Food, water and fuel is now expensive and scarce in Khartoum, and only 16% of health facilities are still functioning, according to the World Health Organization. The acute hardships and continuing fighting have led to a stream of civilians leaving the main city, seeking security overseas, in other cities or in outlying districts of the capital.
Though much of the fighting has been focused in Khartoum, where RSF fighters have embedded themselves in residential areas, there has also been an upsurge of violence the western province of Darfur, where conflict has simmered ever since civil war erupted there two decades ago. Though much of the fighting has been in Khartoum, where RSF fighters have embedded themselves in residential areas, there has also been a surge of violence in the western province of Darfur, where conflict has simmered ever since civil war erupted there two decades ago.
Armed fighters rampaged through Genena, the provincial capital of West Darfur, one of the region’s five provinces, on Thursday, battling each other and looting shops and homes, residents said.Armed fighters rampaged through Genena, the provincial capital of West Darfur, one of the region’s five provinces, on Thursday, battling each other and looting shops and homes, residents said.
Darfur has been a battleground between the military and the paramilitary RSF since the conflict began on 15 April, and the fighting now risks dragging in tribal militias, tapping into longtime hatreds between the region’s two main communities – one that identifies as Arab, the other as east or central African. Darfur has been a battleground between the military and the paramilitary RSF since the conflict began on 15 April, and the fighting now risks dragging in tribal militias, tapping into longtime hatreds between the region’s two main communities – one that identifies as Arab, and the other as east or central African.
Early Thursday, fighters who mostly wore RSF uniforms attacked several neighbourhoods across Genena, driving many families from their homes. The violence then spiraled with tribal fighters joining the fray in Genena, a city of around half a million people located near the border with Chad. Early on Thursday, fighters who mostly wore RSF uniforms attacked several neighbourhoods across Genena, driving many families from their homes. The violence then spiralled with tribal fighters joining the fray in Genena, a city of about half a million people located near the border with Chad.
“The attacks come from all directions,” said Amany, a Genena resident who asked to withhold her family name for her safety. “All are fleeing.”“The attacks come from all directions,” said Amany, a Genena resident who asked to withhold her family name for her safety. “All are fleeing.”
It was often unclear who was fighting whom, with a mix of RSF and tribal militias – some allies of the RSF, some opponents – all running rampant. The military has largely withdrawn to its barracks, staying out of the clashes, and residents were taking up arms to defend themselves, said Dr Salah Tour, a board member of the Doctors Syndicate in West Darfur.It was often unclear who was fighting whom, with a mix of RSF and tribal militias – some allies of the RSF, some opponents – all running rampant. The military has largely withdrawn to its barracks, staying out of the clashes, and residents were taking up arms to defend themselves, said Dr Salah Tour, a board member of the Doctors Syndicate in West Darfur.
Fighters, some on motorcycles, roamed the streets, destroying and ransacking offices, shops and homes, several residents said. Fighters, some on motorcycles, roamed the streets, destroying and ransacking offices, shops and homes, several residents said. “It’s a scorched-earth war,” said Adam Haroun, a political activist in West Darfur.
“It’s a scorched earth war,” said Adam Haroun, a political activist in West Darfur. Genena has already sustained significant damage during days of fighting. The city’s main open-air market has been destroyed, along with stockpiles of medicine in a warehouse. Government offices and aid agencies’ compounds have been repeatedly burned, including UN premises and the headquarters of the Sudanese Red Crescent.
Genena has already sustained significant damage during days of fighting. The city’s main open-air market has been completely destroyed, along with stockpiles of medicine in a warehouse. Government offices and aid agencies’ compounds have been repeatedly burned, including UN premises and the headquarters of the Sudanese Red Crescent.
Two major camps for displaced people have been burned down and their occupants – mainly women and children from African tribes – dispersed, said Abdel-Shafei Abdalla, a senior official with the General Coordination for Refugees and Displaced in Darfur, a local group that helps administer camps.Two major camps for displaced people have been burned down and their occupants – mainly women and children from African tribes – dispersed, said Abdel-Shafei Abdalla, a senior official with the General Coordination for Refugees and Displaced in Darfur, a local group that helps administer camps.
“The city is being destroyed,” said Tour, of the Doctors Syndicate.“The city is being destroyed,” said Tour, of the Doctors Syndicate.
Almost all of Genena’s medical facilities, including its main hospital, have been out of service for days, and the sole hospital still operating can’t be reached because of fighting, he said. Almost all of Genena’s medical facilities, including its main hospital, have been out of service for days, and the sole hospital still operating could not be reached because of fighting, he said.
Elsewhere in Darfur, there have been sporadic clashes, particularly in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur province. Thousands have fled their homes in Nyala, and others are too afraid to go outside for food and water, Abdalla said. Earlier this month, fighters allegedly from the RSF destroyed and looted warehouses for aid agencies in Nyala, including that of the World Food Programme.Elsewhere in Darfur, there have been sporadic clashes, particularly in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur province. Thousands have fled their homes in Nyala, and others are too afraid to go outside for food and water, Abdalla said. Earlier this month, fighters allegedly from the RSF destroyed and looted warehouses for aid agencies in Nyala, including that of the World Food Programme.
The army late on Wednesday said Burhan had given initial approval to a proposal for peace talks by IGAD which would extend the truce for another 72 hours, and to send an army envoy to the South Sudan capital, Juba, for talks. The army said late on Wednesday that Burhan had given initial approval to a proposal for peace talks that would extend the truce for another 72 hours, and agreed to send an army envoy to the South Sudan capital, Juba, for talks.
The military said the presidents of South Sudan, Kenya and Djibouti worked on a proposal that includes extending the truce and talks between the two forces, whose conflict derailed a transition to civilian democracy after a 2021 military coup. The military said the presidents of South Sudan, Kenya and Djibouti worked on a proposal that included extending the truce and talks between the two forces, whose conflict derailed a transition to civilian democracy after a 2021 military coup.
IGAD reaffirmed an earlier call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, de-escalation and a return to the negotiating table. A statement by the bloc made no mention of Juba talks. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development, an organisation of east African states, reaffirmed an earlier call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, de-escalation and a return to the negotiating table. A statement by the bloc made no mention of Juba talks.
Gamal Malik Ahmed Goraish, charge d’ affaires at Sudan’s embassy in Juba, told Reuters it was not clear how any talks would happen or what the agenda would be. Gamal Malik Ahmed Goraish, the charge d’ affaires at Sudan’s embassy in Juba, told Reuters it was not clear how any talks would happen or what the agenda would be.
The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and the African Union Commission chair, Moussa Faki Mahamat, discussed working together to create a sustainable end to the fighting, the state department said on Wednesday.The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and the African Union Commission chair, Moussa Faki Mahamat, discussed working together to create a sustainable end to the fighting, the state department said on Wednesday.
Reuters and Associated Press contributed reportingReuters and Associated Press contributed reporting