Sudan’s rival commanders agreed to a 24-hour ceasefire yesterday, after pressure from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken over fighting that has engulfed the capital Khartoum and saw shots fired at a US diplomatic convoy.
he conflict between Sudan’s military leader and his deputy broke out four days ago, triggering what the United Nations has described as a humanitarian catastrophe, including the near collapse of the health system. At least 185 people have been killed in the fighting across the country.
Irish diplomat Aidan O’Hara (58), who is serving as the EU’s ambassador to Sudan, was assaulted at his residence in Khartoum on Monday. An EU spokesperson said Mr O’Hara was “not injured”.
The ceasefire was due to start at 6pm and will not extend beyond the agreed 24 hours, Army General Shams El Din Kabbashi, a member of Sudan’s ruling military council, said on al Arabiya TV.
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Early yesterday, gunfire echoed across the capital Khartoum accompanied by the sound of warplanes and explosions.
Residents in the neighbouring cities of Omdurman and Bahri reported air strikes that shook buildings and anti-aircraft fire. Fighting also raged in the west of the country, the United Nations said.
In video verified by Reuters, fighters from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) opposing the army could be seen inside a section of the army headquarters in Khartoum. The fighters did not appear to control the sprawling site, a Reuters reporter in the capital said.
Fighting appeared to tail off close to the deadline for the ceasefire, which coincided with the evening breaking of the daily fast during Ramadan.
Mr Blinken, speaking in Japan, said he had telephoned both army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and paramilitary leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, of the RSF, appealing for the 24-hour ceasefire “to allow the Sudanese to be safely reunited with families”.
Gen al-Burhan heads a ruling council installed after a 2021 military coup and the 2019 ouster of autocratic president Omar Bashir during mass protests. Hemedti is Gen Burhan’s deputy on the ruling council.
Their power struggle has derailed an internationally backed plan to shift to civilian democratic rule after decades of autocracy and military control in Sudan.
Unless controlled, the violence risks drawing in actors from the region who have backed different factions, and could play into competition for regional influence between Russia and the United States.
Mr Blinken said the US convoy was attacked despite its vehicles being marked with diplomatic licence plates and bearing US flags. Initial reports suggest the attack was undertaken by RSF-associated forces, he said, calling the action “reckless”. Mr Blinken said all US personnel were safe after the incident.
After the call, Hemedti said the RSF approved the ceasefire to ensure the safe passage of civilians and the evacuation of the wounded.
In a post on Twitter, he said he and Mr Blinken “discussed pressing issues” and more talks were planned.
The RSF issued a statement saying it was waging a battle to restore “the rights of our people” in what it called a new revolution.