KHARTOUM: Hopes for a much-needed humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan were dimmed on Tuesday as explosions continued to rock the capital, casting doubt on the efficacy of the recently brokered truce by the United States and Saudi Arabia.
The ceasefire, which was supposed to last for a week, went into effect late Monday but was quickly violated, echoing a series of previous failed agreements since the conflict between two rival generals erupted on April 15.
Witnesses in Khartoum reported hearing the sound of artillery fire and frequent blasts throughout the day. Residents also observed combat in northern Khartoum and airstrikes in the eastern part of the capital shortly after the ceasefire deadline at 9:45 pm (1945 GMT) on Monday.
Meanwhile, some areas experienced an uneasy silence as residents desperately hoped for a respite in the fighting to allow vital humanitarian aid to reach those in need or to facilitate the evacuation of more people from the embattled city of five million.
Conflict in Sudan
The ongoing clashes involve the Sudanese army, led by de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commanded by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
The conflict has already claimed the lives of approximately 1,000 people and displaced over a million, triggering large-scale evacuations of foreign nationals and a significant influx of refugees into neighboring countries.
With water, food, and essential supplies running low, more than half of Sudan’s population, an estimated 25 million people, are now in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, as declared by the United Nations.
The repeated failure to establish a lasting ceasefire and the unabated violence in Sudan’s capital underscore the urgent need for a peaceful and lasting resolution to the conflict.
The international community and key stakeholders must redouble their efforts to bring the warring factions to the negotiating table and facilitate a comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement.
The lives and well-being of millions of Sudanese people depend on an immediate end to the hostilities and the swift delivery of vital humanitarian aid.
