Fighting has intensified in Sudan, particularly around the Presidential Palace, the surrounding area of the Engineers Corps, and the General Command, where smoke billows despite the ceasefire that both conflicting parties have not adhered to. Security sources described the clashes on Tuesday as the fiercest since the onset of the conflict, resulting in the deaths of three children from the same family and the wounding of the head of the European Union's humanitarian aid office in Khartoum, in addition to dozens of civilians who have fallen between injured and dead.
On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced that there are currently no plans for evacuation operations from Sudan under the auspices of the U.S. government and urged Americans in Sudan to find shelter in a safe place. This comes as gunfire continues to erupt heavily in the Sudanese capital despite the commencement of the ceasefire. Since the start of the week, the number of civilian fatalities due to the ongoing clashes in Sudan has exceeded 144, with 1,409 injuries. For the fourth day, armed confrontations continue between the army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. This renewed conflict has afflicted the country since the 1980s due to its fertile land and natural resources. It is compounded by continued tribal mobilization, threatening to expand the fighting to the regions, which may legitimize a civil war that has already impacted Khartoum's tourism sector by targeting Khartoum North and commercial markets that were burned today by hands seeking to intimidate Sudanese citizens into losing their food sources.
General Shams al-Din Kabbashi, a leader in the army and a member of the ruling Sovereign Council, told Al Arabiya TV that a ceasefire would begin at 6 PM local time (1600 GMT) and would not exceed the agreed-upon duration of 24 hours. As the country entered the humanitarian truce, columns of smoke rose in the skies over Khartoum. The commander of the Rapid Support Forces accused the Sudanese army of violating the ceasefire in both the General Command area and East Nile. According to the leader of the Umma Party, Fadlallah Barmah Nasser, communications are ongoing to establish a contact center that includes political forces and concerned countries. Executive Council member Shams al-Din Kabbashi told "Al-Hadath" that the crisis is with Hemeti and his brother, not with the Rapid Support Forces. The U.S. State Department stated that it "has leverage in Sudan, including sanctions, but it is too early to discuss them." They added, "We do not want to take any action against any Sudanese party before coordinating with friendly countries. The ceasefire has not succeeded, and gunfire continues unabated."
**Medical Teams and Health Facilities**
On Tuesday, Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on both warring parties in Sudan to allow access to medical facilities for all those needing care, warning of shortages of supplies and medical personnel in the capital Khartoum. He added, "I want to be clear: all parties must ensure safe and unhindered access to healthcare facilities for all those injured and in need of medical care." Tedros indicated that some hospitals have already closed or are nearing closure due to attacks and shortages of personnel and medical supplies. Reports have emerged of some health facilities being looted and others being used for military purposes. He added that supplies distributed to health facilities before the recent escalation of hostilities have run out, and hospitals in Khartoum are reporting a shortage of medical personnel and supplies used to save lives. In separate statements earlier on Tuesday, the World Health Organization reported three attacks on healthcare facilities since the outbreak of fighting in Sudan, one of which resulted in at least three deaths.
EU Ambassador to Sudan earlier indicated that he was assaulted in his own residency, constituting a gross violation of the Vienna Convention, as security for diplomatic premises and staff is a primary responsibility of the Sudanese authorities and an obligation under international law. WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris stated, "Attacks on healthcare are a blatant violation of humanitarian law and the right to health, and they must stop now." She added that power outages make it difficult to provide essential services, and movements of individuals anywhere carry significant risks, severely hindering personnel from reaching hospitals. A UN official reported cases of sexual violations, looting, and assaults on relief teams in Sudan.
The Sudanese Ministry of Health called for finding a sustainable solution to the energy supply shortages in health facilities and reported that three children were killed after a shell fell on their house in the East Nile area. The New York Times also reported on the injury of a senior EU official, without further details.
**Sexual Assaults and Looting**
Reflecting on the situation, UN humanitarian official Martin Griffiths expressed grave concern over reports indicating that humanitarian workers in Sudan have been subjected to attacks and sexual assaults. He stated, "The targeting of humanitarian aid workers and facilities in Sudan continues." He added, "This is unacceptable and must stop," mentioning that the UN’s office in South Darfur was looted yesterday.
**Sudanese Army Update**
The Sudanese army announced that it began, early Tuesday, the second phase of securing areas surrounding the General Command extending to downtown Khartoum, asserting it repelled the Rapid Support Forces’ attempted incursion into the fifth division west of Al-Obeid and forced them to withdraw from Merowe Airport. The army stated that the "Rapid Support Forces invade civilian homes and deploy snipers inside them and on their roofs, in addition to being involved in attacking diplomats in Khartoum," adding, "the Rapid Support Forces refuse to allow citizens to leave Khartoum, using them as hostages for as long as possible."
Continuing its repeated claims, the rebel Rapid Support Forces stated that the armed forces targeted their medical premises. In response, the army clarified that Shambat camp belongs to the military police and has no medical facilities; it contained combat forces attempting to carry out military objectives while looting citizens in the neighboring area.
In a statement to CNN, Sudan's Sovereign Council head Abdel Fattah Burhan reaffirmed his commitment to a truce proposed by international powers starting at 6 PM. Transitional Sovereign Council member Shams al-Din Kabbashi indicated on Al Arabiya TV that "two neighboring countries are trying to provide assistance to the Rapid Support Forces." The Rapid Support Forces commander, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, agreed to a 24-hour truce after talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, affirming "his forces' commitment to the directives issued from yesterday morning," accusing "the Sudanese army of not adhering to the humanitarian ceasefire."
Meanwhile, the Sudanese army denied any knowledge of a 24-hour ceasefire after Daglo confirmed agreement to a truce, stating, "We have entered a critical phase, and our efforts are focused on achieving operational objectives." He added that the Rapid Support Forces had mobilized their forces to come from Nyala, Al-Fasher, Al-Jenina, and Al-Tina in western Sudan to Khartoum. The Sudanese Interior Ministry announced that the General Director of Police Anan Omar had issued a decision to terminate the secondment of all police officers to the Rapid Support Forces.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry stated it has received "reports from diplomatic missions and UN organizations about the incursions and assaults on their premises" and called on the international community to "condemn the rebellion of the Rapid Support Forces against the armed forces." The Rapid Support Forces also called for the international community to condemn the Sudanese army's aircraft bombings of their medical facilities, to which the Sudanese army replied: "Shambat camp has no medical facilities, and our intervention was against forces trying to execute military objectives."
On the fourth day of the conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, the latter announced that they are fighting a "battle" to restore their people's rights, referring to the "ongoing new revolution aimed at establishing a civilian government." Meanwhile, heavy gunfire and shelling were heard across various parts of the capital, with video footage circulating showing wounded members of the Rapid Support Forces receiving treatment in a Sudanese army hospital.
Additionally, Sudanese army leader Abdel Fattah Burhan issued a decision to pardon anyone from the Rapid Support Forces who lays down their arms and integrates into the army.
**Attempted Coup for Power**
Before all this, Sudanese army spokesman Nabil Abdullah announced on state television that Sudan is experiencing "an attempted coup to seize power," urging Rapid Support Forces members to "surrender," describing them as "sons of Sudan with no interest in fighting." He considered that "the rebel militias have transformed into fleeing groups" and noted that "the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces are undertaking suspicious movements." He also sent a reassuring message to his citizens, stating, "Monday's skirmishes were very limited," urging "citizens to remain vigilant."
On the other hand, the army condemned the targeting of the Rapid Support Forces against the U.S. mission and the detention of foreigners, in addition to targeting the premises of the World Food Program, which temporarily suspended its operations in the country after three of its staff were killed in the ongoing clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. Since Saturday, Khartoum and some cities in the country have witnessed violent clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces due to disputes between them over the integration process into a unified force.
