has been in a state of turmoil since the overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. The military council that took power after his ouster has been locked in a power struggle with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The two sides have clashed in recent days, leaving at least 59 dead and forcing the UN World Food Programme to suspend its operations in the country.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has left at least 59 dead and forced the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to suspend its operations in the country. Fierce clashes have been reported across Sudan as fighting between rival armed factions continues to spread. On the second day of clashes between the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries, the Sudanese army said it had taken hold of RSF bases in Port Sudan, Kasala, Kadaref, Demazin and Kosti. The RSF claimed to occupy sites in Omdurman and Darfur, as well as Merowe Airport in the north.
However, accounts indicated that the army had regained control of the airport, with the military saying they were dealing with “small pockets of rebels”. Witnesses in Sudan told Reuters news agency that the army appeared to be gaining the upper hand in the country’s power struggle after blasting RSF bases with air strikes. A temporary humanitarian ceasefire was observed to allow the wounded to be evacuated, following complaints from doctors’ unions that it was difficult for medics and sick people to get to and from hospitals while the fighting was raging.
Leading Arab states and the US have urged a resumption of talks aimed at restoring a civilian government, while the African Union has announced that it is sending its top diplomat, Moussa Faki Mahamat, to try to negotiate a ceasefire. Egypt and South Sudan have also offered to mediate between the warring factions, according to a statement by the Egyptian presidency.
The RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has claimed to control key sites in the capital, Khartoum. However, this was rejected by Sudan’s leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who heads the country’s governing Sovereign Council. Sudan state television is reported to have stopped transmissions, but it was not immediately clear what caused the break in programming.
Sudan has been run by a council of generals since a coup overthrew the country’s long-standing authoritarian president, Omar al-Bashir, in 2019. The violence broke out on Saturday after days of tensions over the roadmap for the country’s transition to civilian rule. One of the main sticking points is over the plans to incorporate the 100,000-strong RSF into the army and who would then lead the new force.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has caused shock and anger in Khartoum, a city not used to war. International voices have called for a permanent end to the violence, with leading Arab states and the US urging a resumption of talks aimed at restoring a civilian government. The African Union has sent its top diplomat, Moussa Faki Mahamat, to try to negotiate a ceasefire, while Egypt and South Sudan have offered to mediate between the warring factions.
The UN World Food Programme has suspended its operations in Sudan after three of its workers were killed on Saturday. The brief pause in fighting allowed for wounded to be evacuated, but it is clear that much more needs to be done to bring an end to this crisis. It is hoped that diplomatic efforts will be successful in restoring peace and stability to Sudan and allowing for a successful transition to civilian rule.