KHARTOUM: A 72-hour ceasefire between Sudan’s warring generals took effect on Sunday to allow for the delivery of desperately needed aid to the country, on the eve of a humanitarian conference.
The army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has since April 15 been battling paramilitary forces commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, after the two fell out in a bitter power struggle.
Multiple truces have been agreed and broken in the war that has claimed the lives of more than 2,000 people and driven over two million from their homes, including at least 528,000 who fled abroad.
The latest ceasefire came into force at 6:00 am, with the mediators saying the two sides had agreed to refrain from attacks and allow freedom of movement and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United States of America announce the agreement of representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a ceasefire throughout Sudan for a period of 72 hours,” the Saudi foreign ministry said.
Witnesses in Khartoum said the situation was “calm”.
“We want a full ceasefire,” Sami Omar said, who lives in Khartoum’s twin city of Omdurman.
“A truce is not sufficient for us to return to our lives. They may stop fighting, but the RSF will not leave the homes and passing through checkpoints is just as difficult.”
The United Nations will host an international donors’ conference for Sudan in the Swiss city of Geneva.
Clashes had intensified before both sides pledged to respect the truce in separate statements on Saturday evening.
The RSF said it would abide by the cessation of hostilities, while the army said “despite our commitment to the ceasefire, we will respond decisively to any violations the rebels commit”.
Saudi Arabia intended to “postpone” negotiations on its soil between the two sides “should the parties fail to respect the 72-hour ceasefire”.
The talks, which began weeks ago, have so far failed to produce any concrete agreement.
On Saturday, warplanes struck residential districts of Khartoum, killing “17 civilians, including five children”, according to a citizens’ support committee.
The RSF accused the army of targeting residential areas and claimed to have shot down a fighter jet.
A video the paramilitary forces posted online showed destroyed homes and blankets covering what appeared to be dead bodies.
Since battles began, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project says. — AFP
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