Sudanese Fighting Escalates as Truce Ends: A Real Hell

Violence has erupted once again in North Darfur state, resulting in the deaths of at least 40 people, according to activists and residents. The fighting intensified in Khartoum after a ceasefire deal expired, leading to a new outburst of violence in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region. Witnesses reported seeing black smoke above the capital on Sunday after the truce between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) expired. Fighting in the capital has led to widespread damage and looting, as well as a collapse in health services, power and water cuts, and dwindling food supplies. The RSF claimed it shot down a fighter jet after the army “launched an audacious airborne assault upon our forces’ positions” in northern Khartoum. The deadly power struggle that erupted in Sudan on April 15 has triggered a major humanitarian crisis with more than 1.2 million people displaced within the country and another 400,000 fleeing into neighbouring states. It also threatens to destabilise the region as a whole.