Clashes erupted and the thundering of artillery was heard across parts of Sudan’s capital city early on Sunday, shortly after the conclusion of a 24-hour ceasefire. The tenuous truce brought a fleeting respite to eight weeks of brutal conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Eyewitnesses have reported that skirmishes recommenced post 6 a.m. local time (4 a.m. GMT) in the northern region of Omdurman, which along with Khartoum and Bahri, forms the tri-city capital.
Locals have reported artillery fire in the Sharq el-Nil district on the capital’s eastern fringes, whilst explosions and clashes were also reported throughout Khartoum.
The strife between rival factions of the Sudanese military commenced on April 15th, catalysed by tensions surrounding an internationally endorsed proposal for a transition towards civilian governance. According to local media, albeit with incomplete data, the ongoing turmoil has thus far claimed the lives of over 1,800 individuals, while an estimated 2 million have been forced to flee. This figure includes in excess of 476,000 who have sought refuge in neighbouring nations. The United Nations estimates that at least 1.5 million Sudanese have been internally displaced since the conflict broke out in April.
The ceasefire, which was expected to be in effect until 7 a.m. local time (5 a.m. GMT) on Sunday, has evidently fallen apart. Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry expressed that if the ceasefire were to fail, the nation would contemplate withdrawing its support from peace efforts.
Both Saudi Arabia and the United States have made previous endeavours to mediate a peace agreement. In the wake of the collapse of talks in May, the U.S. imposed sanctions on two pivotal figures in the conflict, Sudan’s army chief and de facto leader Gen Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF’s leader Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo.
Khartoum’s residents, who have long yearned for an end to this devastating conflict, remain sceptical about the durability of the truce.
“A one-day truce is much less than we aspire for,” Mahmud Bashir told the AFP news agency.
“We look forward to an end to this damned war.”
As the crisis continues to escalate, the international community watches with bated breath, hoping for an expedient resolution that may finally bring lasting peace to the region.
Image Credit: Maheen S/AP
