KHARTUM: Ongoing violence between the army and paramilitaries has killed as many as 270 civilians in five days in Sudan, western media reported on Wednesday. “The death toll has been high, with initial estimated civilian deaths of over 270,” the US Embassy in Sudan said.
The paramilitary force battling Sudan’s army has tweeted that it has agreed to a twenty-four-hour ceasefire to start at 06:00 pm local time. Rapid Support Forces said in a statement that it confirmed its full commitment to a complete ceasefire, and hopes the other party will also abide by the ceasefire.
270 killed in Sudan violence
It is not yet clear if the army has agreed to the ceasefire. Both sides had announced they would abide by a twenty-four-hour humanitarian ceasefire on Tuesday. It was also to start at 06:00 pm local time – just before Muslims break their Ramadan fast – but intense fighting continued, particularly around the army headquarters in the centre of Sudan’s capital. Many people have suffered due to ongoing violence in Sudan.
Meanwhile, Tanzania has said that it is planning the evacuation of its citizens from Sudan, where rival factions have been fighting each other for 5 days. Tanzanian Foreign Minister Stergomena Tax informed parliament that the government is communicating with the Tanzanian embassy in Khartoum to know how things unfold. There are 210 Tanzanians in Sudan, of whom 171 are students, and the rest are embassy officers and other citizens. Until now, all Tanzanians are safe.
The government was coordinating with neighbouring nations and organizations such as the African Union and the UN, to ensure their safety, she added. Some students stuck in Sudan have said they are worried for their safety as it is unsafe to venture outside.
Another problem is electricity; without power, they lose their internet connection, leaving them unable to communicate with family back in their country.
