By: Staff
For the past week, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been engaged in a power struggle that has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and injuries to thousands more, according to local and international media reports.
The fighting began on April 15th in multiple cities across Sudan, including the capital Khartoum, Africa’s third-largest country.
On Friday, the World Health Organization’s reported that 413 people, including one US citizen, had been killed, and 3,551 had been injured in the ongoing conflict between the two main factions of the ruling military regime.
Earlier on Friday, the RSF had announced a ceasefire to coincide with the start of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, a move that was intended to open humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens and allow them to greet their families, according to a statement released by the RSF.
However, the country’s military leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, made no mention of the 72-hour ceasefire announced by the RSF in his on-camera statement for Eid.
Meanwhile, bombing and shelling were reported in several areas of Khartoum after the 6am ceasefire was due to begin.
The situation in Khartoum is rapidly deteriorating, with 40 out of 59 hospitals now completely out of operation, and essential services being destroyed.
Civilians have been hiding in their homes since the fighting began, with many lacking access to electricity, food, or water.
On Wednesday, some residents of Khartoum attempted to flee during a patchy 24-hour ceasefire, but it did not hold as traveling is almost impossible now.
Several world leaders have called for a ceasefire and dialogue between the two warring factions, but the leaders of the fighting groups seem unwilling to cooperate.
The situation remains tense, and the future of Sudan is uncertain. Gathering by Joshua Illya, co-reported by Ollus Ndomu and Jessy Madura
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