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Sudan's Armed Forces and RSF agree to open humanitarian corridors

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen Net
16 Apr 2023 21:41
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The embattled Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces agree to a United Nations proposal to open safe humanitarian corridors for a temporary period of time.

Clashes between The Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces put civilians in the capital in harm's way, Khartoum, Sudan, 15 April 2023. (Reuters)

The clashing Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) agreed to open temporary safe humanitarian corridors amidst continuing clashes in Sudan’s capital and other areas in the country.

“The Sudanese Armed Forces agreed to a United Nations proposal to open safe corridors for humanitarian cases, for a period of three hours, starting at four o’clock in the afternoon,” the army said in a statement.

The statement added that these corridors will not hinder the army from “responding to any transgressions committed by the rebel militia.”

The Central Committee of Sudan Doctors announced earlier that ongoing clashes in Sudan between the two groups have killed at least 56 civilians and injured another 595. The committee noted that injured civilians were unable to reach hospitals and health facilities due to transportation difficulties, as well as the army's interception of ambulances and paramedics.

Clashes are ongoing between Army forces led by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and the Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo-led RSF, in what can be described as a surprising turn of events that led to armed conflict between the previous allies.

Here's a quick wrap-up. pic.twitter.com/jfnSEbrX4j
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 16, 2023

Multiple countries expressed fears of the expansion of the fierce fighting that Khartoum and other Sudanese cities witnessed on Saturday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged the commanders of both forces to work toward reducing tensions and "ensure the safety of all civilians," stressing that negotiations are the only solution to end this crisis.

The Sudanese armed forces took a different stance saying that there will be “no negotiations and no dialogue until the Hemedti rebel forces are dissolved and broken up,” adding that it holds a “firm position” on the matter.

The clashes were preceded by an announcement from the army, which warned of the deployment of RSF across Khartoum and other cities. The report pointed to the unsubordinated actions of the RSF which surpassed the army’s central command.