Death toll nears 200 as Sudan spins out of control
Fighting between the army and paramilitaries in Sudan has killed almost 200 people and wounded 1800, damaging hospitals and hampering aid as urban warfare spilt into a fourth day.
Fighting between the army and paramilitaries in Sudan has killed almost 200 people and wounded 1800, damaging hospitals and hampering aid as urban warfare spilt into a fourth day.
There were increasing fears of regional spillover as battles intensify between the forces of two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup.
Analysts say the fighting in Khartoum, the capital of the chronically unstable country, is unprecedented and could be prolonged, despite regional and global calls for a ceasefire as diplomats mobilise.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with the two generals on Tuesday and “underscored the urgency of reaching a ceasefire”.
Mr Blinken also confirmed a US diplomatic convoy had been fired upon on Monday, though those inside were unharmed, in what he called a “reckless” act.
EU ambassador to Sudan Aidan O’Hara was also attacked in his Khatoum home on Monday, but was “OK” a spokesperson said.
Terrified residents of the capital are spending the last and holiest days of Ramadan watching from their windows as tanks roll through the streets, buildings shake, and smoke from fires triggered by fighting hangs in the air.
A weeks-long power struggle exploded into deadly violence on Saturday between the forces of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The conflict has involved airstrikes, artillery and heavy gunfire. Those compelled to venture out face queues for bread and petrol at any outlets that are not shut.
The official doctors’ union warned fighting had heavily damaged several hospitals in Khartoum and other cities, with some completely “out of service”.
The World Health Organisation had already warned that some of Khartoum’s nine hospitals tending to wounded civilians “have run out of blood, transfusion equipment, intravenous fluids and other vital supplies”.
Several organisations have temporarily suspended operations in the country, where one-third of the population needs aid.
Mr Blinken, in Japan for a G7 foreign ministers meeting, spoke to the two protagonists, and “stressed the responsibility of the two generals to ensure the safety and wellbeing of civilians, diplomatic personnel, and humanitarian workers”, spokesman Vedant Patel said.
“ We urge the parties to end hostilities immediately without pre-conditions,” the G7 ministers said in a joint statement.
They warned the fighting “threatens the security and safety of Sudanese civilians and undermines efforts to restore Sudan’s democratic transition”.
UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres on Monday repeated his call on the warring parties to “immediately cease hostilities”. He warned further escalation “could be devastating for the country and the region”.
On Twitter, General Dagalo called on the international community to intervene against General Burhan, branding him a “radical Islamist who is bombing civilians from the air”.
“We will continue to pursue al-Burhan and bring him to justice,” said General Dagalo, whose RSF and its predecessor, the Janjaweed, in Darfur have been accused of atrocities and war crimes.
Fighting broke out after bitter disagreements between the two generals over the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army, a key condition for a final deal aimed at ending a crisis since the 2021 coup, which derailed a transition to democracy.
The official doctors’ union warned fighting had heavily damaged many hospitals in Khartoum and other cities, with some completely “out of service”.
The World Health Organisation had already warned that several of Khartoum’s nine hospitals tending to wounded civilians “have run out of blood, transfusion equipment, intravenous fluids and other vital supplies”.
Influential northern neighbour Egypt said 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”.
Qatar officials spoke to African Union commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat, who is planning to “immediately” undertake a ceasefire mission.
AFP
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