Amid ongoing clashes, sixth ceasefire announced for 72 hours
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The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs accuses the Rapid Support Forces of carrying out "flagrant and repeated" attacks on the headquarters of diplomatic missions and envoys.
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Men walk past shells on the ground near damaged buildings in Khartoum April 27, 2023 (Reuters)
Rival Sudanese forces on Sunday announced the extension of a truce they have largely violated, as warplanes roared overhead and fighting continued on the ground in Sudan's capital.
Following international, regional, and local calls, the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced a sixth ceasefire after the fifth ceasefire has proven to be futile. The Sudanese Army later announced that it has approved the US-Saudi-mediated extension of an existing ceasefire for a further 72 hours.
A spokesman for the RSF paramilitary group said the truce will be effective by Sunday midnight local time.
"In response to international, regional and local calls, we announce the extension of the humanitarian ceasefire for a period of 72 hours, starting from midnight tonight, in order to open humanitarian corridors and facilitate the movement of citizens and residents and enable them to fulfill their needs and reach safe areas," the statement read.
On its part, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the Rapid Support Forces of carrying out "flagrant and repeated" attacks on the headquarters of diplomatic missions and envoys.
"In a flagrant violation of all international norms and treaties, on April 28, these rebel forces attacked the Indonesian embassy," the Ministry's statement added, further accusing the RSF of stealing a diplomatic vehicle belonging to the embassy.
Read more: Fragile truce: Fighting enters third week in Sudan
ICRC aid shipment arrives by air
Furthermore, it was also reported today that medical aid shipments by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) were sent from Amman to Port Sudan as part of emergency humanitarian aid operations.
The eight tonnes of humanitarian aid including surgical material to Sudanese hospitals and volunteers from the Sudan Red Crescent Society (SRCS) who are providing medical care to people wounded in the fighting.
“After 14th April, no-one has managed to get medical assistance into the country which is badly needed,” said Patrick Youssef, ICRC’s regional director for Africa.
"We were able to fly to Port Sudan from Amman as a medical crew, with supplies to deal with war-wounded, enough to stabilize 1,500 wounded."
“This medical assistance will hopefully travel quite quickly from Port Sudan and delivered to the hospitals that are in most need,” Youssef added, noting that this requires a ceasefire to help quickly facilitate deliveries to hospitals and allow medical personnel to adequately do their job.
It was also promised that the ICRC would "send a second plane carrying additional medical supplies and emergency personnel."
Read more: Sudan: A new ceasefire, Washington rules out a solution to the crisis
Futile fifth ceasefire
Two days ago, Sudan's armed forces agreed to extend the ceasefire, which was proposed for an additional 72 hours, to take effect from the expiry date of the fourth ceasefire.
On the last day of the fourth ceasefire, clashes erupted at several points in Khartoum and plumes of smoke rose in the vicinity of the presidential palace in Khartoum, coinciding with the overflight of warplanes.
Read more: Sudan Army, RSF continue to pour reinforcement as fighting rages
The Rapid Support Forces said the army targeted its camp in the Kafouri area in Khartoum, using air strikes and artillery. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti)'s forces also brought in additional forces from the western and southwestern regions, in preparation for upcoming confrontations.
Similar to the preceding ceasefire, the fifth ceasefire ended up being violated with reports of airstrikes and continued clashes from earlier today indicating that the Army was attacking their contenders in Khartoum in an attempt to flush out the paramilitary organization from the capital.
