Sudan: despite the announced ceasefire, clashes continue

Audio 01:28

Photo taken on May 4, 2023 in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Gunfire and explosions gripped Khartoum for a 20th consecutive day, leaving the latest ceasefire effort in tatters. AFP--

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

On Tuesday, May 2, according to South Sudan, which was attempting mediation, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces had agreed in principle for a seven-day truce from May 4 until May 11. Yet Khartoum woke up on Thursday morning to the sound of shelling and street fighting.

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A new truce little respected in Sudan. Several sources confirmed clashes around the presidential palace and the general staff in Khartoum. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by General Hemedti claim that the army attacked their positions, with aerial bombardment and artillery fire. The national forces, led by General al-Burhan, denounce indiscriminate shooting, sabotage and looting by paramilitaries.

Meanwhile, residents continue to suffer. Hassan lives in Omdurman, Khartoum's twin city. According to him, there has been no pause in the fighting: "It has never been held, it is always the opposite. When we say that there is a truce or a ceasefire, the bombings are getting worse, the conflicts are rising, we mean the air force... The market is robbed by the RSF (RSF), there are always people arrested, people disappeared. It's as if there is nothing.

A distraught international community

Peace seems difficult to achieve because "both sides want to continue fighting," UN High Commissioner Martin Griffiths said the day before in Port Sudan. The latter nevertheless hopes for a face-to-face meeting with the two generals within two to three days.

Reached this morning in Khartoum, Mutaz Saleh, of the Sudanese Civil Society Initiative, believes that only targeted sanctions could work. "Some don't want to stop the war until the other side is defeated. As long as no one stops these two generals and there is no strong personal pressure on them, the fighting will continue. So targeted sanctions could work. And we must get closer to Egypt, which supports the army, and the Emirates, which help the paramilitaries. They must be asked to act to stop this war. A meeting of the Arab League is to be held this Sunday.

For their part, foreigners continue to flee. On Wednesday, Nigeria was able to evacuate a first group of 376 nationals, while the United Kingdom has just completed its evacuation plan. For the time being, the Doctors' Union estimates that 67% of the hospitals close to the fighting are no longer functioning: 17 have been bombed, 19 evacuated, 6 ambulances have been attacked. Of the 29 hospitals open, some can only provide first aid.

" READ ALSO – Chad: humanitarians overwhelmed by the number and state of Sudanese refugees

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Read on on the same topics:

• Sudan
• Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
• South Sudan