After Tuesday truce crash, Sudan RSF agree to Wednesday 24h ceasefire
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Sudan's Rapid Support Forces express hope that the Sudanese Armed Forces commit to the ceasefire.
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Soldiers of Sudan's Armed Forces patrolling in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan on April 16, 2023. (AFP)
Sudanese Rapid Support Forces announced on Wednesday their approval of a 24-hour ceasefire starting today at 6 pm local time and hoped that the Sudanese Armed Forces will abide by it as the country entered its fifth day of internal war.
The military group added in a statement that they will be "fully committed to a complete ceasefire," while the armed forces did not yet comment on the matter.
A US-brokered truce went into effect on Tuesday at 6 pm but collapsed just hours later as clashes renewed between the warring rivals across Sudan who accused each other of violating the agreement.
Read more: Over 5,000 Egyptian students stuck in Sudan, send distress calls
The eruption of violence came after weeks of deepening tensions between the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and his deputy, RSF paramilitary commander Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, over the planned integration of the RSF into the state's army.
That was a key element of talks to finalize a deal that would return the country to civilian rule and end the crisis sparked by their 2021 coup, which triggered a deepening economic crisis in what was already one of the world's poorest countries.
Sudan's capital Khartoum witnessed the most intense fighting as media and locals reported sounds of continuous fire exchange, air strikes, and artillery shelling between both sides. The City of Omdurman across the Nile, among several other areas, also witnessed heavy battles.
Residents reported clashes surrounding the army headquarters and near the international airport in Khartoum.
The Sudanese army accused the RSF of presenting conditions that “have not allowed for a truce to start.”
“Different groups from the RSF in several locations around the country assaulted civilians and continued looting, burning the market on Bahri in Khartoum,” stated Sudanese Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Nabil Abdallah Ali Moussa.
“The real problem is that there does not seem that there is control over the RSF from its leadership. They are acting similar to gangs, and they are threatening people’s lives,” he added.
The RSF in return also held the army responsible for shattering the ceasefire “in the first hours” after it went into effect, adding that the army continues to use “heavy weapons attacks," and carries out, "indiscriminate bombing.”
Read more: WHO condemns healthcare facilities attacks in Sudan
At least 296 killed so far
The ceasefire agreement came as humanitarian conditions saw a steep deterioration while battles grew more intense for almost a week with no near end in sight.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 296 people have been killed so far, while over 3,000 individuals were injured. On Saturday, three staff members from the World Food Programme (WFP) were killed during clashes in North Darfur, prompting the agency to suspend all operations in the country.
Doctors without Borders' operational manager for Sudan said that the medical sector in Khartoum is collapsing rapidly as hospitals are also being subjected to military targeting.
“According to the information we have in Khartoum, 50% of hospitals have been rendered inoperational in the first 72 hours,” said Abdalla Hussein.
Médecins sans frontières (Doctors without Borders) said on Twitter that armed individuals raided their warehouse in Darfur, which held "vital medical supplies" along with other critical equipment.
❗ Update from Sudan ❗
— MSF International (@MSF) April 19, 2023
Our compound in Nyala, Darfur was raided by armed men, who stole everything including vehicles and office equipment
Our warehouse – holding vital medical supplies – was also raided, we do not know to what extent as we have no access.
On his part, the director of MSF said that most of the wounded being treated by the organization are civilians, while medical teams are "trapped by the fighting."
The news continuing to come from Sudan is harrowing.
— Christos Christou (@DrChristou) April 18, 2023
Many people are caught in the crossfire… most wounded received by @MSF are civilians… medical teams are trapped by the fighting… power outages are threatening lives…
A spokesperson for the Sudanese Armed Forces, Brigadier General Nabil Abdullah Ali Musa, also accused the Rapid Support Forces of "attacking citizens, looting their property, and burning down a sea market in the Khartoum Bahri neighborhood."
In parallel, the RSF announced in a statement that "the Egyptian nationals who were at Merowe Airport during the clashes have been transferred to the capital Khartoum."
"Egyptian nationals will be handed over when the circumstances permit."
