More than 180 people have lost their lives and more than 1,800 people have been injured in the clashes between the rebel paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF) and government forces in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.
Some UN facilities have been looted and destroyed, and some non-essential staff will have to be evacuated, said the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sudan, Volker Perthes, speaking to reporters early Monday afternoon at UN Headquarters via video from Khartoum.
“Fighting is going on almost uninterrupted,” he said. “I have made efforts to convince the leaders of both sides to hold fire for a humanitarian pause for a few hours to make it possible for the Sudanese to go to safer places or get supplies for Ramadan or go to the hospital.”
In constant contact with leaders of both sides, he said he is currently trying to cement a daily three-hour humanitarian ceasefire. While the parties had agreed on Sunday and again on Monday for such a pause, fighting had resumed before the end of the ceasefire, he said.
The two sides “are not giving us the impression that they want mediation right away,” he said. “Rather, they are calling on the other side to surrender or disband.”
The ongoing conflict between Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Force (RSF), a paramilitary force led by his aide, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has pushed the country into deep chaos. Hospitals have been damaged due to the fierce war, and aid work has been hampered.
The main cause of the current conflict is the violent outcome of the power struggle between Buharan and Dagalo after the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir, who has been in power for a long time in 2021, in this Northeast African country, which has become synonymous with instability.
The reason for this terrible war is the disagreement on how to restore civilian rule in Sudan. RSF has demanded that marginalized groups should be represented against the country’s elite, while the Burhan group has accused the RSF army of ethnic cleansing.
“I strongly condemn the outbreak of fighting that is taking place in Sudan and appeal to the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RAF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to immediately cease hostilities, restore calm, and begin a dialogue to resolve the crisis,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday.
Following the deaths of three employees of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in the restive Darfur region amid widespread fighting, he called for those responsible to be brought to justice without delay.
‘Horrendous’ loss of life
“The situation has already led to horrendous loss of life, including many civilians,” the UN chief said, ahead of delivering opening remarks at a UN Forum on Financing for Development.
He urged all those with influence over the deteriorating situation to press for peace, and support efforts to end the violence, restore order, and return to the path of transition.
US calls for ceasefire
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday he had spoken with the two generals and “underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire.”
“Too many civilian lives have already been lost,” Blinken tweeted, adding he had “stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of diplomatic personnel and aid workers.”
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