The 24-hour ceasefire ended with heavy gunfire in various areas of Sudan, as citizens prepare to flee to safer locations, and diplomatic channels are gearing up to devise safe plans for evacuating foreigners and diplomats amid reports of homes and diplomatic missions being looted. There are significant difficulties in receiving aid from abroad, while the death toll from the clashes has risen to more than 600 people. The Ministry of Health has warned of a rise in epidemics and diseases if the war continues. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a three-day ceasefire in conjunction with Eid al-Fitr.
The relatively lower violence in the Sudanese capital and sporadic areas, compared to previous days during the 24-hour ceasefire, does not bode well according to field data which indicates a repositioning of the conflicting parties, paving the way for fierce upcoming battles, especially since the sixth day witnessed heightened media confrontations and accusations. Despite attempts by the conflicting parties to win the goodwill of the Sudanese street, the travel buses crowded with city residents choosing to leave for safer places tell the tragic tale of a severe shortage of food, with prices soaring like artillery shells and rockets, amidst scarce drinking water and an inflated number of wounded in a country that has lost about 70% of its medical capabilities.
The U.S. State Department urged both sides in the conflict in Sudan to extend the ceasefire until the end of the Eid al-Fitr holiday. It stated that Washington believes the 24-hour ceasefire declared yesterday has largely held despite renewed heavy gunfire today.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit participated this afternoon in an international video conference regarding the situation in Sudan, organized by the African Union and attended by the UN Secretary-General, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the High Representative of the European Union, the Executive Secretary of IGAD, foreign ministers, and senior officials from Sudan's neighboring countries, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, African countries that are members of the Council, and representatives from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. In his remarks, he urged the parties in Sudan to declare a ceasefire during the upcoming Eid, allowing civilians to catch their breath and address their humanitarian needs and urgent humanitarian cases. The Secretary-General indicated that the League would send a high-level delegation as soon as possible to mediate between the parties and contribute to efforts to stabilize the ceasefire and restore a peaceful path, while supporting coordination of regional and international efforts to achieve these goals.
In a talk with Al Jazeera, Sudan's Rapid Support Forces leader Lieutenant General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo expressed readiness to adhere to a ceasefire during Eid al-Fitr. He noted: "The armed forces attacked our troops in West Omdurman this morning despite the declared ceasefire, thus we shot down two army helicopters while repelling the attack." He confirmed that "our forces have remained committed to their positions and to the ceasefire since it was announced."
On the other hand, Sudan's Sovereignty Council head Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan stated that he currently does not see a partner for negotiations to end the conflict in his country. In a discussion with Al Jazeera, Burhan asserted that there is no option other than military resolution, accusing elements within the Rapid Support Forces of blocking roads and preventing free movement in many areas. He added that a real truce cannot be implemented under such conditions.
The Sudanese Ministry of Health pointed out that the fighting "has resulted in the death of at least 270 people and the injury of 2600 others." WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that at least 270 people have died, and more than 2600 others have been injured in the ongoing violent clashes in Sudan since they erupted last Saturday. He did not clarify the numbers of civilian versus military casualties. The doctors' syndicate reported that the number of civilian casualties since the beginning of the clashes rose to 198, with around 1200 injuries, noting that "hospitals have been shelled with artillery, forcing the evacuation of 16 hospitals, none of which are operating at full capacity in the capital."
The Sudanese Red Crescent spokesperson, Osama Osman, commented that "hospitals are completely collapsed and devoid of all necessities. This is beyond catastrophic." UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell announced the death of "at least 9 children, and more than 50 injuries in ongoing clashes in Khartoum, Darfur, and North Kordofan." A representative from the WHO in Sudan, Neema Abid, revealed that 15 hospitals in the capital have been rendered inoperable, saying that "more medical supplies will be brought to Sudan as soon as the situation permits." He added that "medical evacuation for those with serious injuries in Sudan is not a realistic option at this time."
The WHO also urged a halt to fighting to allow the injured to receive medical care and to open a humanitarian corridor for health workers, patients, and vehicles. During an online press conference, the Regional Director of WHO for the Eastern Mediterranean, Ahmed Al-Mandhari, stated, "We call on all parties to implement a sustained humanitarian pause as soon as possible so that those trapped by the fighting can seek refuge. Civilians can access food, water, medicines, and other essential items; and people in need of healthcare can receive the attention they need."
CNN reported, citing a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, that "the department has established a special task force to oversee planning and manage logistics related to events in Sudan." The network quoted sources as saying that a notice regarding the task force was sent to State Department staff on Monday.
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a three-day ceasefire in Sudan during Eid al-Fitr and requested that trapped civilians in conflict areas be allowed to exit and receive treatment, food, and other basic supplies. He did not specify a start date for the ceasefire. The holiday in Sudan begins tomorrow and lasts for three days. He noted that since the outbreak of fighting between Sudanese forces and the Rapid Support Forces last Saturday, humanitarian operations have become "almost impossible" and warehouses, vehicles, and other humanitarian aid assets have been attacked, looted, and confiscated. Three World Food Programme staff members were killed and two injured during clashes on Saturday in Kabkabiya, North Darfur. The UN has about 4,000 staff members in Sudan, including 800 international staff, and stated that before the outbreak of violence, about 16 million people nationwide, or one-third of the population, were in need of humanitarian assistance.
A U.S. official stated that the United States is preparing to send a large number of troops as part of additional forces to its base in Djibouti in case of eventual evacuation from Sudan. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to provide further details.
Earlier, continuous shelling was heard in central Khartoum around the complex housing the army command. Sudanese army chief Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had earlier stated that he oversees operations from within it. It was unclear whether Burhan was still there. The army stated that "the armed forces are repelling a new attack on the surroundings of the general command." Intense gunfire was reported in the Jabra neighborhood west of Khartoum, where homes belonging to Hemeti and his family are located. Hemeti's whereabouts have not been disclosed since the fighting began last Saturday. Explosions were also heard at the main airport, which shut down following the outbreak of clashes due to the power struggle between Burhan and Hemeti, with thick smoke rising, and streets largely deserted in the capital, one of Africa's largest cities with a population of approximately 5.5 million.
The army controls the entrances to Khartoum and is trying to cut off supply routes to Rapid Support Forces fighters in the capital. Witnesses and residents reported that "military reinforcements have arrived in the city from eastern areas near the border with Ethiopia." The Rapid Support Forces stated in a statement that "the army has violated international law by using heavy artillery to bombard homes of families and citizens in Jabra," revealing that a Rapid Support Forces call center was established to assist people in parts of the capital that it controls.
Foreign powers have pressed for a ceasefire to allow evacuations and supply deliveries. Despite both sides declaring a ceasefire on Tuesday and Wednesday, neither held. With fires raging in planes on the runway at Khartoum International Airport, evacuation operations seem currently difficult. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry stated that France will not evacuate its citizens from Sudan "at this current stage," and its focus is now on reaching a ceasefire. The U.S. State Department considered that "the unclear security situation and the airport's closure hinder the planning for an evacuation operation coordinated by the U.S. government."
An American official stated that the U.S. is preparing to send a large number of troops as part of additional forces to its base in Djibouti in case of eventual evacuation from Sudan. The Pentagon will also send military reinforcements to the region in anticipation of evacuating Americans in Sudan. Turkey has also stated that it cannot conduct evacuations at this time.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on both sides in Sudan to end the conflict and return to negotiations. The Turkish presidency stated in a statement that Erdogan held separate phone calls with the Chair of the Sovereignty Council and army chief Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and with Rapid Support Forces leader Lieutenant General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. The statement indicated that Turkey is following the events in Sudan with concern, and Erdogan has informed both Sudanese parties that Turkey is ready to provide all types of support, including potential mediation initiatives.
The British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced that he canceled a planned visit to the Republic of Samoa to focus on coordinating efforts to resolve the crisis in Sudan, managing this from New Zealand. The British Foreign Ministry stated, "The situation in Sudan prompted him to decide to come here directly, where the British have a larger and better-equipped High Commission, with reliable and stable communications that allow him to coordinate more easily regarding Britain's efforts concerning events in Sudan."
Approximately a quarter of the population in Sudan was facing severe hunger even before the outbreak of the conflict. The World Food Programme halted one of its largest global assistance operations in Sudan last Saturday after three of its employees were killed.
Thousands of Sudanese have crossed the border into Chad to escape the fighting in western Darfur, while thousands more have fled the capital Khartoum as gunfire intensified today, Thursday, with the latest ceasefire collapsing. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Programme reported that between 10,000 and 20,000 people fleeing the fighting have taken refuge in villages along the border inside Chad.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed denied reports of his country’s forces entering Sudanese territory, saying, "We condemn these allegations." He reaffirmed Addis Ababa's belief that the Ethiopian-Sudanese border issue will be resolved through dialogue and discussions, warning against "anyone trying to incite conflict between our countries." He concluded by saying, "We do not want to do what some parties did by seizing our lands when the Ethiopian government was in a difficult position."
