The Sudanese capital, Khartoum, has been thrown into chaos as thousands of civilians flee the city and foreign governments scramble to evacuate their citizens amidst a fifth day of fierce fighting. The conflict between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has left the city enveloped in thick black smoke following explosions near the army headquarters. As fighting intensifies, witnesses report seeing heavily armed RSF fighters patrolling the city on pick-up trucks while fighter jets loyal to the military conduct strikes on targets believed to be held by the paramilitary forces.
Collapsed Ceasefire and Growing Exodus
The exodus follows Tuesday’s collapsed ceasefire between the warring factions. The Sudanese military and RSF had agreed to a 24-hour humanitarian ceasefire, but the truce collapsed within minutes of its proposed 16:00 GMT launch. Civilians began to flee the capital early on Wednesday morning after fighting resumed and Khartoum was rocked by gunfire and deafening explosions.
A shortage of fuel and a lack of public transport has seen many of those fleeing forced to do so on foot, with some seeking passage to central and western Sudan – where their families live – on flatbed trucks. Witnesses reported people leaving Khartoum in cars and on foot on Wednesday morning.
Reports of Robberies and Checkpoints
As civilians flee the city, there have been reports of robberies and checkpoints set up by the RSF. One local fleeing the capital said that the RSF had set up checkpoints on roads around the city, and some of its fighters had robbed him, stealing his phone and some money. Robberies have also been reported in areas of the capital itself. On Tuesday, residents of the Khartoum 2 area said that the RSF militia had been going house-to-house in the neighbourhood demanding water and food.
Death Toll and Injuries
The death toll caused by the fighting is unclear, but the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) said on Tuesday that at least 174 civilians had been killed in the violence. UN officials say 185 people have died, and more than 1,800 have been injured. However, experts say the real figure could be far higher, with many wounded unable to reach hospitals which have reportedly been shelled.
Foreign Governments Plan Evacuations
As the fighting intensifies, a number of nations say they have started preparations to evacuate their citizens from the country. Japan said its Self Defense forces were considering how to evacuate some 60 Japanese citizens from Sudan, with a military plane placed on standby. Tanzania’s Foreign Affairs Minister Stergomena Tax told parliament that his government was also evaluating whether it was possible to evacuate 210 of its citizens.
Meanwhile, the US embassy in Khartoum said “the uncertain security situation” in the capital meant there were no plans for a “US government-coordinated evacuation.”
Russian Woman Trapped in Church
A Russian woman trapped in a Greek Orthodox church in Khartoum said that her situation was growing desperate, after her group ran out of power, food, and water. She said that “urban electricity was cut off from the very beginning of the fighting,” but that a generator powering the church had run out of fuel.
EU Ambassador Assaulted
Elsewhere, the EU said on Wednesday that its ambassador to Sudan had resumed his duties after being assaulted by fighters in the capital on Monday. A spokesperson for the European Commission said Ambassador O’Hara was attacked after unidentified “armed men wearing military fatigues” stormed his residence in Khartoum.
The RSF, which is a paramilitary group that has been accused of committing atrocities against civilians in Sudan’s Darfur region, has been a major player in the current conflict. The group was formed in 2013, and its members are drawn from various militias that fought in Darfur during the country’s civil war.
Despite its official status as a government-sanctioned force, the RSF has been implicated in numerous human rights abuses, including rape, torture, and extrajudicial killings. The group’s leader, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, is a powerful figure in Sudan’s military and political circles and is widely believed to be behind the recent crackdown on protesters.
Many analysts believe that the RSF’s involvement in the conflict is motivated by a desire to maintain its position of power and influence in Sudan. The group has been accused of profiting from the conflict by engaging in illegal activities such as smuggling and extortion.
Image Credit: Marwan Ali/AP
