Khartoum: Sudan’s warring forces battled on Friday with heavy gunfire and explosions in the capital Khartoum and elsewhere in the country, as they ignored appeals by world powers for an end-of-Ramazan ceasefire.
More than 300 people have been killed and thousands wounded since the fighting erupted Saturday between forces loyal to Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his depu-ty, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the commander of the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) who is commonly known as Hemeti.
The Central Committee of Sudan Doctors said that overnight, as the Eidul Fitr celebrations marking the end of Ramazan began, “several areas of Khartoum were bombed” and report-ed “shelling and clashes” for the sixth straight night.
Khartoum has seen some of the fiercest fighting with air strikes and tanks firing in densely packed districts, with most of its five million people sheltering at home in baking heat without electricity, food or water. Communications are heavily disrupted.
Both UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and US State Secretary Antony Blinken called separately for a ceasefire of “at least” three days to mark Eid, as explosions and gun-fire resounded in Khartoum.
The RSF, a powerful force formed from members of the Janjaweed militia that led years of extreme violence in the western Darfur region, said they would commit to a 72-hour cease-fire starting at dawn (4am GMT).
But, like two previously declared 24-hour ceasefires, it failed to take hold.
The crackle of intense gunfire continued Friday morning, with columns of black smoke ris-ing across the capital.
Pakistan considers evacuating citizens
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed Khan held an online meeting with Pakistan’s missions in Khartoum and surrounding countries on the situation in Sudan.
“The government is working with partner countries to ensure the safety and security of Pa-kistanis in Sudan, including the option of evacuation,” the Foreign Office said.
He also met Sudan Ambassador Salih Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed Siddig to convey con-cern about the deteriorating situation in his country.
The foreign secretary expressed hope that the Sudanese authorities would take all measures to ensure the safety and security of Pakistanis in the country.
On Thursday, dozens of Burhan loyalists protested in Port Sudan against the presence of the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, which has been accused of links to Daglo.
“No to the foreign interference in the country’s affairs,” read a banner they carried.
Analysts have warned of countries across the region being dragged into the conflict.
For the first time since hostilities began a week ago, Burhan appeared on television.
“For Eid this year, our country is bleeding: destruction, desolation and the sound of bullets have taken precedence over joy,” he said in a pre-recorded video, which showed him sitting behind a desk in military uniform.
