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— Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces agreed on a 72-hour ceasefire starting from Tuesday.
— There have been new reports of gunfire and shelling despite the ceasefire deal.
— The World Health Organization representative in Sudan Nima Saeed Abid said on Tuesday at least 459 people had been killed since the conflict broke out in Sudan on April 15.
— Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces agreed on a 72-hour ceasefire starting from Tuesday.
— There have been new reports of gunfire and shelling despite the ceasefire deal.
— The World Health Organization representative in Sudan Nima Saeed Abid said on Tuesday at least 459 people had been killed since the conflict broke out in Sudan on April 15.
Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres is sending UN Humanitarian Affairs chief Martin Griffiths as an envoy to the Sudan region, his spokesman said Sunday.
The announcement came as the army and heavily armed paramilitaries in Khartoum continued fighting, even as a widely breached ceasefire was extended for 72 hours.
“The scale and speed of what is unfolding is unprecedented in Sudan,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement.
“I am on my way to the region to explore how we can bring immediate relief to the millions of people whose lives have turned upside down overnight,” Griffiths said in a separate statement on Sunday.
Massive looting of humanitarian offices and warehouses had “depleted most of our supplies. We are exploring urgent ways to bring in and distribute additional supplies,” he said.
More than 500 people have been killed and tens of thousands of people were forced to leave their homes for safer locations within the country or abroad since fighting erupted on April 15.
Griffiths said that families were struggling to access water, food, fuel and other commodities, with some unable to relocate due to the cost of transportation out of the worst-hit areas.
Urgent healthcare is severely constrained, raising the risk of preventable death, said Griffiths.
Five containers of intravenous fluids and other emergency supplies were docked in Port Sudan awaiting clearance by authorities, he added.
(With input from AFP)
(Cover: Smoke rises in clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) despite a ceasefire in Khartoum, Sudan, April 29, 2023. /CFP)
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has announced the delivery of a vital 8-tonne shipment of humanitarian aid to Port Sudan.
This marks the first international aid delivery to the region, providing much-needed support to Sudanese hospitals and the Sudan Red Crescent Society (SRCS) volunteers.
These medical professionals are currently tending to the thousands of individuals wounded in the ongoing conflict.Included in the shipment are essential medical supplies such as anesthetics, dressings, sutures, and other surgical materials. These resources will help bolster the capacity of local medical facilities to provide life-saving care to the affected population.
However, the ICRC also emphasized the need for safe passage guarantees from the warring parties to ensure the aid can reach areas with active fighting, such as Khartoum. As hostilities persist, the ability to deliver these supplies to the most vulnerable becomes increasingly critical.
The ongoing conflict has already claimed the lives of at least 528 individuals, with 4,599 more injured, according to the health ministry. The United Nations has reported similar numbers but estimates that the actual death toll may be significantly higher.
As the situation continues to worsen, foreign nationals have begun fleeing the region in one of the largest evacuations since the U.S.-led forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021.
For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.
The Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Sunday announced the extension of an existing ceasefire for a further 72 hours.
Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15.
Both sides have accused each other of initiating the conflict.
(With input from agencies)
Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced another 72-hour ceasefire starting from Sunday midnight, the RSF said in a statement on Sunday.
“In response to international, regional and local calls, we announce the extension of the humanitarian truce for 72 hours, starting from midnight tonight, in order to open humanitarian corridors and facilitate the movement of citizens and residents and enable them to fulfill their needs and reach safe areas,” the statement said.
Hundreds of people were killed since the conflict between the Sudanese army and RSF erupted in mid-April.
A first plane laden with humanitarian aid from the International Committee of the Red Cross landed in Sudan on Sunday, AFP reported.
At least 425 civilians have been killed and 2,091 wounded in the clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the non-governmental Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors said on Sunday.
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As foreign countries continue to evacuate their citizens from Sudan by land, sea and air, Sudanese citizens report gunfire and heavy artillery fire in parts of Khartoum on Saturday.
The military activity continues amid the extension of a ceasefire between the country’s two top generals, warring with each other for power. Hundreds of Sudanese civilians thronged the borders as renewed warnings grow louder of the wider instability to come if the fighting does not stop. At least 528 people have been killed and 4,599 wounded, with the United Nations saying it believes the real toll is much higher.
At least 75,000 people have been internally displaced by the fighting, the UN said. Satellite views shows buses gathered at the Arqeen border crossing into Egypt.
The UK said Saturday 1,888 people were airlifted to safety in its evacuation effort, while the U.S. State Department reported hundreds of Americans reached Port Sudan safely in its first evacuation on Saturday.
The U.S. earlier received criticism from families of Americans in Sudan for initially ruling out any U.S.-run evacuation.
The first charter flight carrying more than 340 Chinese nationals evacuated from Sudan arrived in Beijing on Saturday morning.
For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.
The Chinese military has completed the mission of evacuating Chinese from Sudan, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense said Saturday.
A total of 940 Chinese citizens and 231 foreigners were carried by Chinese naval vessels out of Sudan to the Saudi Arabian port of Jeddah in two evacuation operations from Wednesday to Saturday, said Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Tan Kefei.
“The Chinese military is always the guardian of the people and a strong force to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and to serve the building of a community with a shared future for humanity,” he added.
(With input from Xinhua)
At least 528 people have been killed and 4,599 wounded in the clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the Sudanese Health Ministry said on Saturday.
A second batch of evacuees from conflict-stricken Sudan arrived at Jeddah Port in Saudi Arabia aboard a Chinese naval vessel on Saturday morning. A total of 272 Chinese citizens, 215 Pakistani citizens and six Brazilian citizens were among those evacuated.
A flight carrying 343 Chinese nationals evacuated from Sudan via Jeddah has arrived in Beijing. It’s the first chartered flight home organized by the Chinese government. Meanwhile, heavy fighting continues in Sudan’s capital Khartoum and adjacent cities, despite the warring parties having agreed to extend a truce by 72 hours.
The second batch of evacuees aboard a Chinese naval vessel from conflict-stricken Sudan arrived at Jeddah Port in Saudi Arabia on Saturday morning.
A total of 272 Chinese citizens and over 200 nationals of other countries like Pakistan and Brazil are among those evacuated.
At least 411 civilians have been killed and 2,023 wounded in the clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the non-governmental Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors said on Saturday.
A chartered flight carrying over 340 Chinese nationals evacuated from conflict-hit Sudan arrived in Beijing on Saturday morning. (Video provided by Luo Bin, president of the Sudanese Chinese Students’ Union.)
More than 340 Chinese nationals evacuated from conflict-stricken Sudan boarded a chartered flight to China from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 7:56 p.m. local time on April 28.
“During our evacuation from Sudan, we could hear continuous gunshots and there was thick smoke billowing from the shelling behind our buses. But when we set foot aboard the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy’s supply ship Weishanhu, I felt as if I had come home, completely relieved of fear and anxiety. I would like to express my gratitude to them because they ensured our safe and smooth evacuation. I am really thankful for all their help,” said Zhou Hang, a Chinese evacuee, before boarding the plane.
Click the video and find out more.
The first charter flight carrying more than 340 Chinese nationals evacuated from conflict-hit Sudan arrived in Beijing on Saturday morning.
The passengers took the flight from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Friday night. They are among the 817 Chinese evacuees that had arrived at Jeddah Islamic Port by Thursday, according to Yin Lijun, charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Saudi Arabia.
The Chinese government is studying the possibility of arranging more charter flights, Yin told China Media Group.
More than 1,300 Chinese nationals have been safely evacuated from Sudan since the Chinese Embassy in Sudan issued a notice for evacuation, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday. It added that there are still a small number of Chinese nationals in Sudan and the Chinese government will provide every possible assistance to them.
(Cover: The first charter flight carrying over 340 Chinese nationals evacuated from Sudan arrives in Beijing, China, April 29, 2023. /CMG)
The Turkish Defense Ministry confirmed on Friday that a Turkish evacuation plane had been fired at in Sudan and there were no injuries.
The Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Thursday agreed to extend the existing cease-fire, which expires at midnight Thursday, for three more days.
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the army’s general commander, gave initial approval for the extension of the cease-fire late on Wednesday for another 72 hours, the army said in a statement, reiterating it unilaterally approved the truce extension.
In response, the RSF said in a statement on Twitter that it agreed “to extend the humanitarian truce for an additional 72 hours” starting at midnight Thursday.
At least 512 people have been killed in the clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, according to Sudan’s Health Ministry on Wednesday.
China’s permanent representative to the United Nations on Tuesday called on the warring parties in Sudan to promptly end hostilities.
The recent eruption of armed conflict in Sudan has led to massive civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction. It pains China, a good friend and partner of Sudan, to see the country’s relapse into turmoil, said Zhang Jun.
China calls on both parties to the conflict to put the interests of the country and people first, end hostilities promptly and avoid further escalating the situation, he told a Security Council meeting on Sudan.
China hopes that the humanitarian truce will hold, civilians will be effectively protected, the safety of foreign institutions, personnel, and diplomatic missions in the country will be ensured, and security and logistics support will be provided for humanitarian aid and personnel evacuation and relocation, said Zhang.
“Sudan is an important country in the Horn of Africa. If the current conflict drags on and escalates, there will undoubtedly be a higher spillover risk. This is not in the interests of Sudan and will harm regional peace and security,” he warned.
At present, the priority is to facilitate the immediate cessation of hostilities, urge both parties to the conflict to solve differences and divergences through dialogue, and bring the political process and social economic development as well as social order back to the right track, he said.
The cause of the current turmoil in Sudan deserves serious reflection. The international community should respect Sudan’s sovereignty and ownership and support Sudan in exploring institutional arrangements in line with its national conditions. Imposing a solution from the outside or arbitrarily setting up a timetable is likely to be counterproductive, he said.
China firmly supports Sudan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and hopes that Sudan will see the end of the conflict at an early date and return to the right track of peace, stability, and national development, said Zhang.
Fighting broke out in Sudan’s capital city of Khartoum on April 15 between two factions of the Sudanese military and quickly spread to different areas in the country. Data from the Sudanese Health Ministry said at least 460 people have been killed and more than 4,000 others wounded.
(With input from Xinhua)
Sudan’s army on Wednesday said ousted former president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir is being held in a military hospital under police custody.
Formerly jailed Bashir and around 30 others were moved to the hospital on the recommendation of medical staff in Kober prison before fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out, the statement said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for an immediate end to fighting in Sudan.
Ten days of violence and chaos since the outbreak of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces are heartbreaking. A prolonged, full-scale war is unbearable to contemplate, he told a UN Security Council meeting on Sudan.
Sudan borders seven countries, all of which have either been involved in conflict or seen serious civil unrest over the past decade. It is a gateway to the Sahel, where insecurity and political instability are making an already catastrophic humanitarian situation even worse, he noted.
At least 460 people have been killed and 4,063 wounded in the clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the health ministry said on Tuesday.
The UN is bracing for up to 270,000 people to flee Sudan into Chad and South Sudan, AFP reported on Tuesday.
At least 459 people have been killed in the clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, the WHO said on Tuesday.
China has not received any reports of casualties of Chinese citizens in Sudan, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.
Most of the over 1,000 Chinese citizens in the conflict-ridden northeast African country have been safely evacuated to its border ports or neighboring countries, Mao Ning, spokesperson for the ministry, told a regular press briefing in Beijing.
China will continue to make efforts for the next arrangement, said Mao.
Violent clashes broke out in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces on April 15 in the capital city of Khartoum and other places, killing at least 400 people and injuring another 3,700, according to the United Nations.
Mao said the Chinese embassy in Sudan is closely monitoring the development of the situation and providing support and assistance to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions.
“When danger arises and there is a need to be evacuated, the embassy will always be the last to leave,” she said, adding that the ministry is also taking measures to secure the safety of those in the embassy.
Read more:
Chinese nationals evacuated from Sudan: Foreign Ministry
Live updates: Sudan’s RSF announce 72-hour ceasefire during Eid holiday
(Cover: Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry. /Chinese Foreign Ministry)
At least 427 people have been killed and over 3,700 wounded in the clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan said on Friday.
The U.S. said on Monday that the warring factions in Sudan had agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire, while Western, Arab and Asian nations raced to extract their citizens from the country.
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the truce deal followed two days of intense negotiations and would begin on Tuesday. The two sides have not abided by several previous temporary truce deals.
FILE PHOTO: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. /CFP
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday welcomed the safe temporary relocation of hundreds of UN staff members and dependents from Khartoum and other places in Sudan.
Guterres appreciated the cooperation by all sides in Sudan to allow for the operation to be carried out without incident. He reiterated his call on the parties to immediately cease hostilities and allow all civilians to evacuate from areas affected by the fighting, said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN chief, in a statement.
The world body has about 4,000 staff in Sudan, of which 800 are international.
Deadly armed clashes broke out between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces on April 15, killing more than 424 people, with about 3,730 wounded by Saturday, according to the country’s health ministry.
A part of a building was damaged during battles between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in the southern part of Khartoum, Sudan, April 23, 2023. /CFP
At least 420 people have been killed and 3,700 others wounded in the ongoing clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces since April 15, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office on Sunday.
Paramedics, frontline nurses and doctors are often unable to access the injured, because of insecurity and attacks on ambulances and health facilities, the WHO said.
The Sudanese army and the RSF have accused each other of initiating the conflict and the two sides, on Sunday, blamed each other for launching attacks on diplomatic missions in the country.
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has condemned “in the strongest terms” the indiscriminate bombings and shelling in Sudan.
The ACHPR, which is one of the organs of the African Union (AU) as set out by the African Charter, said it is following with deep concern the grave unfolding situation in Sudan.
“Various human and peoples’ rights of the people of Sudan are put in great peril with the violence worsening by the day,” the ACHPR said in a statement issued late Friday.
The ACHPR expressed its “outrage in the strongest terms possible, the indiscriminate conduct of hostilities including bombings and shelling of sites in civilian residential areas causing the death and maiming of increasing number of people.”
(With input from Xinhua)
The foreign ministers of Qatar and Saudi Arabia discussed the latest developments in Sudan over phone, local media reported on Sunday.
Canada temporarily suspended operations in Sudan, the Canadian government announced on Sunday.
“The situation in Sudan has rapidly deteriorated making it impossible to safeguard the safety and security of our staff in Khartoum. After consulting with Canada’s Ambassador to Sudan, the decision has been made to temporarily suspend our operations in Sudan. Canadian diplomats will temporarily work from a safe location outside of the country,” according to a statement released by Canadian government.
The Chinese embassy in Sudan issued a notice on Saturday asking nationals whether they are willing to evacuate from the country, which has been in chaos since April 15.
“Those who are willing to be evacuated should fill out the relevant forms before 9 p.m. on Saturday, local time,” the notice said, adding that citizens in Sudan should keep monitoring the situation and remain vigilant.
Smoke fills the sky in Khartoum, Sudan, near Doha International Hospital on April 21, 2023. /CFP
Sporadic gunfire and air strikes echoed across Khartoum despite promises by warring sides to cease fire for three days after a week of strife that has killed hundreds.
Sounds of fighting continued overnight but appeared less intense on Saturday morning than on the previous day, a Reuters journalist in Khartoum said. Live broadcasts by regional news channels showed rising smoke and the thud of blasts.
The army and the paramilitary RSF, which are waging a deadly power struggle across the country, had both issued statements saying they would uphold a three-day ceasefire from Friday for the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr.
Sudan’s sudden collapse into warfare has dashed plans to restore civilian rule, brought an already impoverished country to the brink of humanitarian catastrophe and threatened a wider conflict that could draw in outside powers.
There has been no sign yet that either side can secure a quick victory or is ready to back down and talk. The army has air power but the RSF is widely embedded in urban areas including around key facilities in central Khartoum.
Army chief Abdel Fatteh al-Burhan and rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, had held the top two positions on a ruling council overseeing a political transition after a 2021 military takeover that was meant to include a move to civilian rule and the RSF’s merger into the army.
The World Health Organization reported on Friday that 413 people had been killed and 3,551 injured since fighting broke out. The death toll includes at least five aid workers in a country reliant on food aid.
International efforts to quell the violence have focused on the ceasefire, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling on them to honor the truce.
Sudan’s Civil Aviation Authority announced on Saturday that the closure of the country’s airspace will be extended to April 30.
Clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces entered its eighth day on April 22. At least 413 people have been killed and 3,551 wounded, according to the World Health Organization.
Hassan, a local photojournalist, was at his office when clashes broke out. He was trapped for two days along with others, without food or water. In the video, Hassan talks about his experience, and how they got out safely. “The situation now is very difficult,” Khaled said. “Look at the Sudanese people right now.”
Smoke is seen in Khartoum, capital of Sudan, April 15, 2023. /Xinhua
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group is prepared to open all Sudanese airports in order to enable friendly countries to evacuate their citizens, Al Jazeera reported. The Sudanese Foreign Ministry said that it would coordinate evacuations of foreign nationals from the United States, Britain, France and Germany, among others, during the ceasefire.
The RSF declared a 72-hour truce on Friday, despite continuous skirmishes with the Sudanese Army. “The truce coincides with the blessed Eid al-Fitr…to open humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens and give them the opportunity to greet their families,” the RSF said in a statement. There was no immediate comment from the army. Before Friday, two declared 24-hour ceasefires had failed to take hold.
The Sudanese Ministry of Health said on Friday that over 400 people had been killed and about 3,500 others wounded in the continued clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF. “The death toll on Friday reached more than 400 with about 3,500 wounded,” Sudanese Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim said in a statement.
Amid the ongoing fighting, the United Nations (UN) continued to appeal to the RSF and Sudanese Army to strike a deal.
Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF broke out on April 15, forcing civilians to flee and seek shelter from the hostilities. Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands injured.
(With input from agencies)
Sweden will evacuate its embassy staff and their families from Sudan as soon as the situation makes that possible, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Friday, adding that Sweden was coordinating its policy with other countries.
The European Union said Friday it was planning for a possible evacuation of its citizens from Khartoum when security allows, according to AFP.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said a staff member has died in Sudan after his vehicle was caught in the crossfire, Reuters reported on Friday.
Sudanese Armed Forces commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said on Friday that the military is committed to a transition to civilian rule, according to Al Jazeera.
At least 413 people have been killed and 3,551 wounded in the clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Sudan conflict enters its seventh day while international communities are worried about the worsening humanitarian crisis and new wave of refugee crisis as no ceasefire in sight.
Beginning Saturday, the conflict killed more than 330 people and injured 3,200 others in the African country.
Humanitarian crisis worsening
UN agencies on Thursday expressed concern over the impact of fighting on civilians in Sudan, where the humanitarian situation was already dire.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said at least nine children were reportedly killed in the fighting and more than 50 children were injured.
The fighting has disrupted critical, life-saving care for an estimated 50,000 severely acutely malnourished children, who need ongoing, round-the-clock care, which is being put at risk by the escalating violence, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russel.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said people have been unable to safely leave their homes to buy food and other essentials for days now. Humanitarian pauses must be ensured to enable the safe passage of civilians so that they can seek medical care and access basic provisions.
The humanitarian response in Sudan is severely hampered, said OCHA, adding that many states have interrupted humanitarian activities in response to attacks against aid workers and looting of humanitarian facilities.
The World Food Program warns that the fighting in Sudan could plunge millions more into hunger, and the UN Population Fund warned the fighting is putting tens of thousands of pregnant women in danger, making it too perilous to venture outside their homes to seek urgent medical care.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is also greatly alarmed by the escalating violence as an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people, mostly women and children, have fled the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region to seek refuge in neighboring Chad in the past few days.
Locals watch as a fire broke out after a house was hit during clashes between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum, Sudan, April 20, 2023. /CFP
No ceasefire in sight yet
Although international communities including UN has called on two sides in the conflict to stop the fighting for a ceasefire and seek political dialogue to solve the crisis, there is no ceasefire in sight yet as the conflict is entering its seventh day.
On Friday, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said it had agreed to a 72-hour truce on humanitarian grounds, effective from 6 a.m. Friday, but there is no immediate comment from the Sudanese army.
Wang Youming, director of the Institute of Developing Countries at the China Institute of International Studies, told CGTN that the RSF and Sudanese army might accept a temporary ceasefire under international pressure, but the two sides don’t have a strong willingness to attend peace talks, especially when neither of them has an overwhelming advantage. “The conflict will continue for a period.”
Acknowledging the power struggle between the warring sides is the main reason for the conflict, Wang said the two sides are also trying to get endorsement from regional countries and major global powers, but it’s still unclear which countries will step in the conflict.
Wang also expressed concerns about the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict.
“It’s urgent to restore electricity and water for Sudanese,” Wang said, adding that it’s also imperative to notice the impact of a new wave of refugees to regional political security.
Read more:
Sudan’s Army-RSF clashes explained
At least 243 civilians have been killed and 1,335 wounded in the clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Sudan’s Doctors Syndicate said on Friday.
South Korea will send military aircraft to Sudan to evacuate its nationals, Yonhap reported on Friday.
Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced a 72-hour ceasefire on humanitarian grounds from 6 p.m. Friday local time, the RSF said in a statement on Friday.
“We note that the truce coincides with the blessed Eid al-Fitr and to open humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens and provide them with the opportunity to greet their families,” the statement said.
Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, falls on Friday this year.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said Thursday that up to 20,000 people had fled escalating violence in Sudan to seek safety in Chad.
The UN’s refugee agency said most of those arriving were women and children and were currently sheltering out in the open without food and water.
Some of the refugees had been caught up in the fighting in Sudan, it said.
Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan said on Thursday that the Sudanese army has been in control of all Sudan except Khartoum, Al Jazeera reported, adding there is no room to talk about politics again with Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
RSF has not responded to it yet.
Turkish President Erdogan held phone calls with Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman al-Burhan and RSF leader Dagalo, local media reported on Thursday.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations headquarters in New York City, U.S., April 17, 2023. /CFP
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is scheduled to attend a virtual meeting on Sudan on Thursday, a UN spokesman said.
The meeting will bring together the chairperson of the African Union, the secretary-general of the Arab League, the executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and other relevant organizations, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for Guterres, told reporters on Wednesday.
Guterres spoke to President William Ruto of Kenya earlier Wednesday, and talked with the chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, the spokesman said, adding that the UN chief will continue to make phone calls in the day, in attempts to secure a 24-hour ceasefire between the fighting forces in Sudan.
Volker Perthes, the secretary-general’s special representative in Sudan, continues to engage with the parties, as well as key Sudanese leaders and member states, in trying to secure an immediate de-escalation of the fighting and working on the 24-hour ceasefire, Dujarric said.
He said that the continued heavy fighting in Sudan is having devastating consequences for Sudanese civilians as well as UN staff and other members of the international community.
“We reiterate to the parties to the conflict that they must respect international law,” the spokesman said. “They are obliged to protect civilians and ensure the safety and security of all United Nations and associated personnel as well as their premises, our assets, and trapped civilians must be able to receive assistance, access essential supplies and evacuate to safer zones as needed.”
World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday called on parties in Sudan conflicts to respect truce and allow people to seek refuge and access to food, water, medicine and needed health care.
“I condemn all loss of life, especially attacks on civilians and health care,” he said in a statement, calling the situation in Sudan is “increasingly concerning and heart breaking.”
“Reports of forces occupying health facilities are also deeply concerning. Attacks on health care are a flagrant violation of international law and the right to health -they must stop!” he said.
At least 330 people have been killed and 3,200 wounded in the clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Since April 15, almost 330 people have died and almost 3,200 more injured as a result of fighting between government and armed opposition forces in Khartoum and a number of other states, including Darfur States,” said Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) urged both sides in Sudan to pause fighting to allow people to get medical attention if needed and to open up a humanitarian passage for health workers, patients and ambulances. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean said on Thursday.
Egyptian Armed Forces announced on Thursday that all troops from Sudan as well as the personnel had returned safely from the Egyptian Embassy in Khartoum, local media has reported.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said in a statement on Twitter that it had handed over 27 Egyptian military personnel to the International Red Cross on Thursday.
Loud explosions were heard in the south of Khartoum, Arab News reported on Thursday.
At least 270 civilians have been killed in the clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), AFP reported.
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) approved a truce for a period of 24 hours, starting from 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday, the RSF said on Twitter.
Japan will send Self-Defense Forces to rescue nationals after Sudan clashes, Kyodo News reported on Wednesday.
Fierce battles are continuing between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the vicinity of the presidential palace and the army command in the capital Khartoum, Arab media outlets reported on Wednesday.
The two sides had agreed to a ceasefire for 24 hours, starting at 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday.
Sudan’s Ministry of Health Emergency Operations Center reported 270 people have been killed and more than 2,600 injured in the fighting that erupted in the country last Saturday, according to a tweet by the WHO.
Sudan’s army took control of Merowe Airport, Al-Jazeera reported on Tuesday, citing a source from the army.
Smoke is seen in Khartoum, capital of Sudan, April 15, 2023. /Xinhua
The Sudanese Armed Forces agreed to a truce for 24 hours on the condition that they ensure the arrest of the Rapid Support Forces(RSF), Al Arabiya reported on Tuesday, citing Sudanese army general Shems al-Din Kabbashi.
The ceasefire will start at 6 p.m. local time and will not extend beyond the agreed 24 hours, the army general said.
RSF leader general Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, said the RSF approved the 24-hour ceasefire to ensure the safe passage of civilians and the evacuation of the wounded.
The RSF also issued a statement saying it was waging a continuing battle to restore “the rights of our people” in what it called a new revolution.
The violent clashes renewed on Tuesday morning around the vicinity of the Sudanese army command and the presidential palace, Khartoum International Airport, and around some RSF bases south of the capital Khartoum, according to eyewitnesses.
Clashes between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan have killed 185 people and wounded another 1,800 as of Monday, while showing no sign of abating.
Volker Perthes, head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan, briefed the Security Council in a closed-door session on the latest situation of the conflict.
Meanwhile, the non-governmental Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors said on Tuesday that the death toll of civilians in the continued clashes has jumped to 144.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called on leaders of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF to immediately cease hostilities and begin a dialogue to resolve the crisis.
Sudan has been witnessing armed clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas outside the capital since April 15, with the two sides accusing each other of initiating the conflict.
The tension between the two military forces has escalated since Wednesday in the Merowe region in northern Sudan, after the RSF moved military vehicles to a location near the military air base there, a move that the army considered illegal.
Deep differences have emerged between the Sudanese army and the RSF, particularly regarding the latter’s integration into the army as stipulated in a framework agreement signed between military and civilian leaders on December 5, 2022.
(With input from agencies)
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) warned on Tuesday that Sudan’s health system was at risk of collapse due to a lack of access to vital supplies and expressed that it was nearly impossible to provide humanitarian services around the capital city of Khartoum.
“The truth is that at the moment it is almost impossible to provide any humanitarian services in and around Khartoum,” Farid Aiywar, IFRC head of delegation for Sudan, told reporters.
Sudan’s army denied knowledge of 24-hour ceasefire in coordination with international community, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing a statement.
The Sudanese army has confirmed that the situation in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state, is under control, according to a report by Al Jazeera on Tuesday.
Egyptian national carrier EgyptAir on Tuesday suspended flights to and from Sudan until further notice due to ongoing security instability.
The Rapid Support Forces in Sudan announced a temporary ceasefire and agreed to a 24-hour truce, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the RSF said via Twitter.
At least 144 civilians have been killed in fighting that erupted in Sudan early on Saturday, said the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors.
A U.S. diplomatic convoy was fired upon in Sudan, but those inside were unharmed, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday.
“I can confirm that yesterday we had an American diplomatic convoy that was fired on. All of our people are safe and unharmed. But this action was reckless, it was irresponsible and of course unsafe,” he told reporters in Japan after G7 talks.
The commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, tweeted on Tuesday that he had a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and discussed the situation in Sudan.
He said he reaffirmed the “unwavering commitment” to safeguarding innocent civilians in areas under the RSF’s control, adding that he will have another call with Blinken to continue the dialogue.
The U.S. Department of State later said in a statement that Blinken spoke separately with Hemedti and Sudanese Armed Forces commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and underscored the urgency of reaching a ceasefire to permit the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those affected by the fighting.
Kenya on Monday announced plans to evacuate 3,000 of its nationals in Sudan amid military clashes.
Roseline Njogu, principal secretary for State Department for Diaspora Affairs, told journalists in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, that despite the closure of Sudan’s airspace, the country has constituted a multi-agency technical team that is monitoring the evolving situation on a real-time basis.
“We are assembling all the logistics required to evacuate our citizens once Sudan’s airspace is open and there is the ability to move people safely,” Njogu said.
The European Union ambassador to Khartoum was attacked in his home in Khartoum on Monday, the bloc’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said, as fighting between rival generals gripped Sudan.
“A few hours ago, the EU Ambassador in Sudan was assaulted in his own residency,” Borrell wrote on Twitter, without detailing any injuries to the envoy. “Security of diplomatic premises and staff is a primary responsibility of Sudanese authorities and an obligation under international law,” he added.
Burning buildings northeast of Khartoum International Airport, Sudan, April 17, 2023. /CFP
Fighting between the army and paramilitaries in Sudan has killed around 200 people and wounded at least 1,800, causing worries about human tragedy and urging more diplomatic efforts.
A weeks-long power struggle exploded into deadly violence on Saturday between the forces of two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup, Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
‘Unprecedented and could be prolonged’ fighting
Analysts say the fighting in the capital of the chronically unstable country is unprecedented and could be prolonged, despite regional and global calls for a ceasefire as diplomats mobilize.
Battles have also taken place throughout the vast country, and there are fears of regional spillover.
The conflict has seen air strikes, artillery and heavy gunfire, causing severe damage to multiple industries. For example, residents are dealing with power shortages and water outages.
Volker Perthes, the head of the United Nations mission to Sudan, told the Security Council in a closed-door session that at least 185 people have been killed and another 1,800 wounded.
“It’s a very fluid situation so it’s very difficult to say where the balance is shifting to,” Perthes told reporters after the meeting.
Humanitarian crisis warned
Medics in Sudan had earlier given a death toll of nearly 100 civilians and “dozens” of fighters from both sides, but the number of casualties was thought to be far higher, with many wounded unable to reach hospitals.
The official doctors’ union warned fighting had “heavily damaged” multiple hospitals in Khartoum and other cities, with some completely “out of service.”
The World Health Organization had already warned that several of Khartoum’s nine hospitals receiving injured civilians “have run out of blood, transfusion equipment, intravenous fluids and other vital supplies.”
In the western region of Darfur, international medical aid organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported receiving 136 wounded patients at the only hospital in El Fasher still operating in North Darfur state, adding that many children are among the wounded.
To ensure employees’ safety, a number of organizations have temporarily suspended operations in the country where one-third of its population needs aid.
Diplomatic efforts ramp up
Diplomatic maneuvers seemed to ramp up Monday, as the fighting showed no signs of abating.
Earlier Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres again called on Sudan’s warring parties to “immediately cease hostilities.” He warned that further escalation “could be devastating for the country and the region.”
Northern neighbor Egypt announced it had discussed with Saudi Arabia, South Sudan and Djibouti – all close allies of Sudan – “the need to make every effort to preserve stability and safety.”
The Gulf emirate Qatar spoke to African Union commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat, who is planning to “immediately” undertake a ceasefire mission.
(With input from AFP)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday strongly condemned the outbreak of fighting in Sudan and appealed to the leaders of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to immediately cease hostilities, restore calm and begin a dialogue to resolve the crisis.
More than 100 civilians have been killed in fighting that erupted in Sudan early on Saturday, Al Arabiya reported on Monday, citing the Sudan doctors’ committee.
Sudan’s army general Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan issued a decision to dissolve the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and declare it a rebel force, Al Arabiya reported on Monday citing the Sudanese Foreign Ministry.
Sudan’s army has declared that it has taken control of the nation’s state television and is restoring broadcasting.
“We have moved to the final stage of the operation plan,” the army said after days of fighting with a paramilitary force.
Sudan’s army appeared to gain the upper hand on Sunday in a bloody power struggle with rival paramilitary forces, pounding their bases with air strikes, said witnesses.
At least 97 civilians had been killed and 365 injured since the fighting in started, said one doctor’s group.
The fighting erupted on Saturday between army units loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan’s transitional governing Sovereign Council, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, who is deputy head of the council.
It’s the first such outbreak since both joined forces to oust longtime ruler Omar Hassan al-Bashir in 2019 and was sparked by a disagreement over the integration of the RSF into the military as part of a transition towards civilian rule.
Burhan and Hemedti agreed to a three-hour pause in fighting from 4 p.m. local time to allow humanitarian evacuations proposed by the United Nations, the U.N. mission in Sudan said, but the deal was widely ignored after a brief period of relative calm.
As night fell residents reported the boom of artillery and roar of warplanes in the Kafouri district of Bahri, which has an RSF base, across the Nile river from the capital Khartoum.
Eyewitnesses told Reuters the army was renewing air strikes on RSF bases in Omdurman, Khartoum’s sister city across the Nile, and the Kafouri and Sharg El-Nil districts of adjacent Bahri, putting RSF fighters to flight.
The United States, China, Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the U.N. Security Council, European Union and African Union have appealed for a quick end to the hostilities that threaten to worsen instability in an already volatile wider region.
Efforts by neighbors and regional bodies to end the violence intensified on Sunday. Egypt offered to mediate, and regional African bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development plans to send the presidents of Kenya, South Sudan and Djibouti as soon as possible to reconcile Sudanese groups in conflict, Kenyan President William Ruto’s office said on Twitter.
The eruption of fighting over the weekend followed rising tensions over the RSF’s integration into the military. Discord over the timetable for that has delayed the signing of an internationally-backed agreement with political parties on a transition to democracy after a 2021 military takeover.
(Cover: Smoke rises as clashes continue in the Sudanese capital on April 17, 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). /CFP)
A power outage hit large parts of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, Al Jazeera said on Monday.
Earlier, the broadcaster reported intensified renewed fighting among military rivals in areas of Khartoum.
At least 83 people have been killed and 1,126 injured in Sudan since clashes erupted throughout the country between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), including in the capital Khartoum, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). CGTN stringer Momen Almakki reports from Khartoum North that local residents are afraid of running out of daily necessities amid the ongoing fighting.
Sudan’s representative to the Arab League Al-Sadiq Omar Abdullah speaks during an emergency meeting in Cairo, Egypt, April 16, 2023. /CFP
Sudan’s representative to the Arab League (AL) said on Sunday that efforts are underway to figure out what had caused the ongoing military clashes in the country, as the league held an emergency meeting in Cairo to discuss the conflict that has killed at least 83 people.
The meeting, called for by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, came a day after clashes erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), following days of tension over the RSF’s integration into the army.
Speaking to reporters, Al-Sadiq Omar Abdullah, Sudan’s representative, said the RSF and Sudan’s armed forces were in a partnership and on the same camp during the political transition process of Sudan.
“We will figure out exactly what the cause of this conflict is, and perhaps after that, the issue can be resolved,” Abdullah said.
At least 83 people have been killed and 1,126 others wounded across Khartoum, South Kordofan, North Darfur, Northern State and other regions since April 13, with the heaviest concentration of fighting now taking place in Khartoum City, Sudan’s capital, the World Health Organization said on Sunday.
According to Xinhua, during the AL meeting, Abdullah said the RSF initiated the fighting on Saturday morning, referring to them as “rebels.” He added that the Sudanese army struck back and foiled the RSF attacks and was in control of the situation.
Abdullah called on Arab states to mediate for a calm and peaceful settlement in Sudan “away from international interventions.”
In a statement following the meeting, the AL council at the level of permanent representatives stressed the necessity of “immediate ceasefire of all armed clashes to protect the civilians and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sudan.”
Other Arab delegates urged the Sudanese parties to return to the peaceful path to resolve the crisis, warning against the dangers of violent escalation.
China on Sunday called on the parties of the conflict in Sudan to end fighting as soon as possible and prevent the escalation of tensions, and urged them to increase dialogue and jointly move forward the political transition process.
Sudan has been ruled by a transitional government since former President Omar al-Bashir was ousted from power in a popular revolution in 2019.
Tensions between the military and civilian groups have characterized much of the post-al-Bashir period, leading to another military takeover in October 2021 that ousted the civilian leader from a power-sharing government, leaving a political vacuum to be filled.
The RSF’s growing size has long been a source of concern for the military leadership, who, along with civilian representatives, has called for the group’s integration into the regular armed forces.
Zhang Yongpeng, a research fellow at the Institute of West Asian and African Studies of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told CGTN in an interview that the power struggle may be the immediate reason, but behind the clashes is a complicated history, which also involves the issue of the Darfur region.
A civil war might be possible, he said, adding that outside players like the United Nations could play a role in solving the issue but warned against external interference.
Read more:
Live updates: Sudan military clashes
Sudan’s Army-RSF clashes explained
(Cover: Smoke rises as clashes continue between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in the capital Khartoum, Sudan, April 16, 2023. /CFP)
At least 97 civilians have been killed and 365 others injured since fighting erupted in Sudan, the doctor’s trade union said in a statement early on Monday, according to Reuters.
While the World Health Organization said on Sunday that more than 83 people had been killed and more than 1,126 people injured across Khartoum, South Kordofan, North Darfur, Northern State and other regions since April 13.
A fire broke out in the building housing Sudan’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the capital city of Khartoum, Al Jazeera reported on Monday, citing sources.
At least 83 people have been killed and 1,126 wounded across Sudan’s Khartoum, South Kordofan, North Darfur, Northern State and other regions since April 13, with the heaviest concentration of fighting now taking place in Khartoum City, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. /REUTERS
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday condemned clashes in Sudan that have left dozens of civilians dead including three workers for the global body’s food agency, demanding swift justice over the killings.
Guterres “strongly condemns the deaths and injuries of civilians, including the death of three staff members of the World Food Programme in North Darfur, with a further two seriously injured,” the UN chief’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement, adding: “those responsible should be brought to justice without delay.”
East African leaders on Sunday called for an immediate end to the ongoing fighting in Sudan where military clashes have killed at least 56 people and injured nearly 600 others.
The Kenyan Presidency said the leaders from the regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), held an emergency virtual session on Sunday where they called for an immediate cessation of hostilities between the parties to the conflict in Sudan.
Those in the emergency session were President William Ruto of Kenya, Salva Kiir of South Sudan, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia.
“President William Ruto asked IGAD leaders to take a firm position on the crisis to restore peace in the country,” the presidency said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.
The leaders resolved to send presidents Kiir, Ruto and Guelleh at the earliest possible time to reconcile the conflicting groups.
The leaders also asked the two parties to the conflict in Sudan to provide a safe corridor for humanitarian assistance in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital, and other affected towns.
Violent clashes erupted on Saturday between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum and other cities, where the two sides traded accusations of initiating the conflict.
Sudan’s Central Doctors’ Committee said that at least 56 civilians had been killed while 595 more have been injured, among them soldiers who are in critical condition.
The tension between the two military forces has escalated since Wednesday in the Merowe region in northern Sudan, after the RSF moved military vehicles to a location near the military air base there, a move that the army considered illegal.
Deep differences have emerged between the Sudanese army and the RSF, particularly regarding the latter’s integration into the army as stipulated in a framework agreement signed between military and civilian leaders on December 5, 2022
The Sudanese army on Sunday said it had taken control of the headquarters of Rapid Support Forces in the Kordofan sector, Al Arabiya has reported.
Rapid Support Forces have not responded yet.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces tweeted on Sunday that it allowed safe routes and humanitarian cases for four hours after UN request.
The Sudanese Army said it had agreed to the UN proposal to open safe humanitarian paths for a period of three hours, starting from 4:00 p.m. local time on Sunday.
The Arab League issued a statement on Sunday calling for an immediate cessation of all armed conflicts to safeguard the safety of civilians and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan.
Clashes between Sudan’s army and a paramilitary force erupted Saturday morning in Sudan’s capital Khartoum, killing at least 56 people and injuring hundreds.
CGTN Stringer Momen Almakki at Kobar, Khartoum North, says the clashes are still on-going on Sunday morning. Continuous gunshots from nearby can be heard in the video.
The World Food Programme temporarily halted all operations in Sudan following deaths of its three employees, it said on Sunday.
At least 56 were killed, and nearly 600 others were injured in Sudan after clashes erupted between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces in many parts of the capital Khartoum and other areas outside the capital.
The RSF announced that it had taken control of the presidential palace, a strategic guesthouse within the army’s headquarters, and the Khartoum International Airport in the capital. The RSF also claimed to have seized control of Merowe and El-Obeid airports and other strategic sites in the states.
However, the Sudanese army denied the claims, stating that “all sites are under the control of the armed forces.” On Saturday evening, the Sudanese Armed Forces issued a statement on social media that there would be no negotiations or dialogue until the RSF is disbanded.
The United Nations condemned the killing of three World Food Programme (WFP) employees amid fighting in Sudan on Saturday, saying the three died while carrying out their duties.
Volker Perthes, the head of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission said on Sunday that the three WFP employees were killed in clashes in Kabkabiya in North Darfur a day earlier.
Egypt and South Sudan on Sunday offered to mediate between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, who began fighting in Khartoum and towns across the country on Saturday, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.
In a phone call between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir on Sunday, the two called on both sides in the power struggle to “choose the voice of reason and peaceful dialogue”, the statement said.
The Arab League Council is holding an emergency meeting on Sunday at the permanent representatives level to discuss the current situation in Sudan.
Representative from Sudan asked for support from Arab states to restore calm, and said Khartoum rejected foreign interference.
Egypt’s representative called for immediate ceasefire in Sudan, also warning against foreign interference in Sudan’s affairs.
The AU Peace and Security Council started an emergency session on the situation in Sudan on Sunday.
Sudanese MTN telecom provider said they had blocked internet service following orders from authorities, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing company officials.
The Sudanese military claimed to have taken control and seized all equipment at the largest base of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Karari, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday.
CMG correspondent Moamen Al-Makki reports that the situation in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, remains tense and uncertain as the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continue to clash. Both accuse each other of starting the fighting. The RSF previously said it had captured military bases and international airports, but the Sudanese army has denied the claim.
China urges both sides in Sudan’s armed conflict to cease fire as soon as possible and to avoid further escalation, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday.
China hopes that all parties will strengthen dialogue and jointly advance the political transition process, the spokesperson added.
The armed conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted early on Saturday.
(Cover: Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing, China, June 11, 2022. /CFP)
The Sudanese military claims to have taken control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) headquarters in the city of Kassala in eastern Sudan, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday, citing a Sudanese military source.
The Sudanese paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has claimed that its troops have been attacked by foreign aircraft, and it has issued a warning against any foreign interference, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday.
Firefights between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces around the Armed Forces Headquarters in Khartoum were ongoing at daybreak on Sunday, according to a CMG correspondent.
The deadly conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the capital Khartoum has killed at least 56 people and wounded hundreds, arousing international communities to urge a ceasefire and worry about further escalation.
Violence erupted early Saturday morning after weeks of deepening tensions between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the large and heavily-armed paramilitary RSF, with each accusing the other of starting the fight.
This is the first such outbreak since both joined forces to oust president Omar Hassan al-Bashir in 2019.
Click here to read a live report of the conflict
Both sides claim they control key sites. Daglo’s RSF say they have seized the presidential palace, Khartoum airport and other strategic sites, but the army insist they are in charge, with the air force late Saturday urging people to stay indoors as it continued air strikes targeting RSF bases.
The RSF and the military have been competing for power as political factions negotiate forming a transitional government after a 2021 military coup.
“The total number of deaths among civilians reached 56,” said the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors, adding there were also “tens of deaths” among security forces, as well as around 600 wounded.
Read more:
Sudan’s Army-RSF clashes explained
End to the hostilities urged
The raging conflict in Sudan has triggered widespread concerns and efforts by neighbors and regional bodies to end the violence intensified on Sunday.
Egypt and South Sudan, the two most influential direct neighbors to Sudan, offered on Sunday to mediate between Sudan’s army and RSF, calling on them to “choose the voice of reason (and) peaceful dialgoue.
The African Union’s Peace and Security Council called an emergency session on Sunday to discuss political and security developments in Sudan. And the Arab League Council is holding an emergency meeting at the permanent representatives’ level to discuss the current situation in Sudan.
Besides, China and other international powers have earlier appealed for an immediate end to the hostilities.
UN chief Antonio Guterres called for “an immediate cessation of hostilities,” while a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Sunday that China urged both sides in Sudan’s armed conflict to end fighting as soon as possible and prevent the escalation of tensions
The spokesperson added that China hoped parties in Sudan will increase dialogue and jointly move forward the political transition process.
But the two generals appeared in no mood for talks. In an interview with UAE-based Sky News Arabia, Daglo, also known as Hemeti, said, “Burhan the criminal must surrender.”
The army declared Daglo a “wanted criminal” and the RSF a “rebel militia”, saying there “will be no negotiations or talks until the dissolution” of the group.
The latest violence came after more than 120 civilians had already been killed in a crackdown on demonstrations over the past 18 months.
(With input from agencies)
The United Nations Security Council has issued a statement that expresses deep concern over the military clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, and urges both parties to immediately cease hostilities and restore calm.
The statement also expresses regret for the injuries and loss of life, and calls on all actors to return to dialogue to resolve the current crisis.
Read more: At least 30 killed, hundreds injured in clashes in Sudan
A power struggle between Sudan’s army and a paramilitary force has rocked the country on Saturday, killing at least 30 people and injuring hundreds, according to the UN. Residents dodged gunfire as the rival forces fought over the presidential palace, state TV buildings and army headquarters. The Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces are vying for control of the country. The leaders of both groups were allies in a coup that took power in 2021, but have publicly fallen out in recent months.
No casualties have been reported among Chinese citizens in the ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Charge d’ Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Sudan, Zhang Xianghua, said on Sunday.
During an interview with China Media Group, Zhang stated that the Embassy had immediately launched the emergency response mechanism and had requested that the Sudanese side effectively protect the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions in the country.
On Saturday, armed clashes between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces had been reported throughout the capital of Khartoum and its sister city of Omduran, resulting in at least 30 deaths and hundreds of injuries, according to United Nations officials.
Zhang added that the Embassy had issued emergency security tips to Chinese personnel and institutions in Sudan, coordinated with the Sudanese side to provide support and assistance, and reminded Chinese citizens in Sudan to pay attention to the development of the situation and the information released by the Embassy, not to go outside, and stay away from windows to avoid stray bullets.
(Cover: Smokes are seen in Khartoum, capital of Sudan, April 15, 2023. /Xinhua)
Explosions have been heard in multiple neighborhoods in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday.
Smoke rises in Omdurman, near Halfaya Bridge, during clashes between the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army as seen from Khartoum North, Sudan, April 15, 2023. /Reuters
At least 30 people were killed and hundreds were injured after fighting erupted between rival military factions in Sudan early Saturday, The New York Times has reported, citing United Nations officials.
Sudan’s military, headed by General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, has been clashing with the government’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in what seems to be a power struggle following tensions over the RSF’s integration into the army.
Parts of the country, including capital city Khartoum, have been plunged into violence as the Sudanese Doctors’ Union earlier said it recorded deaths at Khartoum’s airport and Omdurman, as well as west of Khartoum in the cities of Nyala, El Obeid and El Fasher.
Fighting was also reported elsewhere, including in cities in the Darfur region.
At the end of a day of heavy fighting, the military launched air strikes on a base belonging to the RSF in the city of Omdurman, which adjoins the capital Khartoum, eyewitnesses told Reuters late on Saturday.
The RSF claimed to have seized the presidential palace, army chief’s residence, state television station and airports in Khartoum, the northern city of Merowe, El Fasher and West Darfur state. The army rejected those assertions.
The Sudanese air force told people to stay indoors while it conducted what it called an aerial survey of RSF activity, and a holiday was declared in Khartoum state for Sunday, closing schools, banks and government offices.
Gunfire and explosions could be heard across the capital, where TV footage showed smoke rising from several districts and social media videos captured military jets flying low over the city, at least one appearing to fire a missile.
A Reuters journalist saw cannon and armored vehicles on the streets and heard heavy weapons fire near the headquarters of both the army and RSF.
Al-Burhan told Al Jazeera TV the RSF should back down: “We think if they are wise they will turn back their troops that came into Khartoum. But if it continues we will have to deploy troops into Khartoum from other areas.”
The armed forces said it would not negotiate with the RSF unless the force dissolved. The army told soldiers seconded to the RSF to report to nearby army units, which could deplete RSF ranks if they obey.
The RSF leader, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, called Burhan a “criminal” and a “liar.” The military and RSF, which analysts say is 100,000 strong, have been competing for power as political factions negotiate forming a transitional government after a 2021 military coup.
“We know where you are hiding and we will get to you and hand you over to justice, or you die just like any other dog,” Hemedti said.
A prolonged confrontation could plunge Sudan into widespread conflict as it struggles with economic breakdown and tribal violence, derailing efforts to move towards elections.
(With input from Reuters)
Click arrows to view gallery
Heavy gunfire was reported throughout Sudan’s capital Khartoum and its sister city of Omduran on Saturday, with reports of fierce fighting between the Sudanese military and a powerful paramilitary force, RSF.
Sudanese doctors union told Reuters on Saturday that at least 25 people were killed, with 183 injured across the country following the clashes. The doctors said they were unable to determine if all of the dead and injured were civilians.
The Sudanese army said it launched air strikes, sparking international calls for calm.
Fears of a wider conflict are emerging, with the staff of the American embassy being told to shelter in place. Passengers from a Saudi Arabian airplane were moved to the Saudi embassy after it was hit by gunfire before it could take off from Khartoum.
For more, check out our exclusive content on CGTN Now and subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The China Report.
At least 27 people were injured in Sudan’s El Fasher city during Saturday’s clashes between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to a CGTN correspondent.
The RSF tweeted on Saturday that it had taken control over a number of military sites in El Fasher, including the El Fasher Airport, but the Sudanese army has not responded to this claim yet.
Egyptian national carrier EgyptAir said on Saturday it was suspending flights to and from Khartoum for 72 hours following recent clashes in the Sudanese capital.
Tensions between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted on Saturday, with gunfire heard in several parts of Khartoum and witnesses reporting shooting in adjoining cities.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan and Head of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) Volker Perthes on Saturday strongly condemned the eruption of fighting in Sudan and called for the restoration of calm.
“The SRSG Perthes has reached out to both parties asking them for an immediate cessation of fighting to ensure the safety of the Sudanese people and to spare the country from further violence,” a statement from the senior official said.
Clashes erupted on Saturday morning between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in many parts of the capital Khartoum and other areas outside the city.
Four civilians were killed in northern Khartoum, Sudan during Saturday’s clashes, according to a CGTN correspondent.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of Sudan said it has fully controlled the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum, after claiming control of the Khartoum Airport, according to a statement issued on Saturday.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of Sudan said it had fully controlled the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum, after claiming control of the Khartoum Airport, according to a statement it issued on Saturday.
Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said on Saturday that the Sudanese army had surrounded one of its bases in south Khartoum and opened fire with heavy weapons, as gunfire could be heard in several parts of Khartoum and adjoining cities.
A Reuters witness saw cannon and armored vehicles deployed in streets, and heard the sound of heavy weaponry in the vicinity of the headquarters of both the army and the RSF.
However, the Sudanese army spokesperson Brigadier General Nabil Abdallah told AFP that soldiers of the RSF attacked its bases in Khartoum and elsewhere, adding that the clashes are ongoing and the army is “carrying out its duty to safeguard the country.”
Al Jazeera also reported that the air traffic has stopped at the Khartoum International Airport following the clashes.
The Chinese embassy in Sudan issued a security notice, reminding Chinese citizens and institutions in the country to stay on high alert and step up security precautions.
(With input from agencies)
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