AFRICA (Commonwealth Union) _ Witnesses in Khartoum reported heavy air strikes in the city center and near the presidential palace. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a rival paramilitary group, claimed that the palace, which they assert control over, was destroyed by an air strike. However, an army source denied this allegation.
The conflict in Khartoum, which began on April 15, has caused a significant number of people to flee their homes and has resulted in an aid crisis. The United Nations’ migration agency stated that the number of internally displaced individuals within Sudan has more than doubled in a week, reaching 700,000.
Representatives from the two warring factions, who have repeatedly violated ceasefire agreements, attended talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with the aim of reaching a short-term ceasefire. The Saudi foreign ministry reported that negotiations were focused on achieving an effective ceasefire.
Amid concerns of a humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, the UN aid chief, Martin Griffiths, proposed a declaration to ensure the safe passage of aid supplies. This proposal has been discussed in Jeddah, and Griffiths hopes it will be endorsed promptly to facilitate a swift and secure relief operation for millions of people in Sudan.
The United Nations estimates that an additional 5 million people in Sudan will require emergency assistance, and 860,000 are expected to seek refuge in neighboring countries that are already facing their own crises, all while wealthy nations have reduced their aid contributions.
The World Health Organization confirmed a death toll of over 600 and more than 5,000 injured in the conflict, though the actual figures are believed to be higher.
Witnesses reported a state of lawlessness in Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri, with rampant robbery and looting due to the absence of police and the rule of law. Homes, shops, and warehouses have all been targeted, and Sudan’s Banks Union condemned the burglary and vandalism at some branches.
The ongoing conflict between Sudan’s army, led by General Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), risks escalating into a prolonged war that could involve external powers and trigger a humanitarian crisis across the region.
The army and the RSF had initially joined forces in a military coup in 2021 to disrupt the planned transition to civilian rule. However, disagreements over the terms and timing of the transition led to the sudden outbreak of fighting in Khartoum in April, which subsequently spread to the Darfur region, where a long-standing conflict had already been ongoing since 2003.
General Burhan clarified in a phone interview that the talks in Jeddah were primarily aimed at alleviating pressure on civilians rather than achieving a political settlement. He accused the RSF of cutting off power and communication in the areas under their control.
The RSF, on the other hand, has denied reports of looting and other abuses and claimed that they are working to maintain essential services in Khartoum. They also accused the army of conducting air strikes on residential areas.
