Sudan crisis: Amid ongoing fight, paramilitary group RSF announces 72-hour ceasefire

Sudan crisis: As the violence in Sudan enters its seventh day, the country’s paramilitary force Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has announced a 72-hour ceasefire beginning Friday, according to Al Jazeera.

The paramilitary forces announced in a statement that the ceasefire would go into effect at 6 a.m. (04:00 GMT) on Friday, the start of the Muslim holiday of Eid ul-Fitr, amid heavy fighting with the army in the country’s capital of Khartoum.

“The armistice coincides with the blessed Eid al-Fitr, and open humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens and give them the opportunity to greet their families,” Al Jazeera reported, citing the statement.

Six days ago, a conflict erupted between Sudan’s military leader and his deputy on the ruling council, derailing a plan for a civilian democracy that had received international support, four years after the previous government was overthrown by widespread protests and two years after a military coup. Sudan’s army and a paramilitary group have been fighting for nearly six days over a proposed timeline for handing over power to a civilian government.

According to the UN health agency, nearly 300 people have been killed in the last five days.
Thousands of people have fled Khartoum in search of safety, according to Al Jazeera.

According to Al Jazeera, there have been a number of failed ceasefires since the army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, clashed last weekend.
The two men previously served as Sudan’s top military officials.

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, was among the well-known world figures who recently urged combatants to observe a three-day cease-fire for Eid and allow civilians to flee to safety.
Several world powers have condemned the ongoing conflict between the army and paramilitary forces in Sudan.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday met UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and discussed the current developments in Sudan.

“We had a very good meeting. Most of our meeting was on the Sudan situation. We also discussed the G20, and Ukraine conflict, but essentially it was about Sudan,” the EAM told ANI.

“In Sudan, the UN is trying to establish a ceasefire and that is really key because at the moment, unless there is a ceasefire and unless there are corridors, it’s not safe for people really to come out,” Jaishankar said.