Clash between rival military camps in Khartoum enter day 3, 100 civilians killed
Growing intensity of violent engagement between rival military camps in Sudan has entered day three threating sporadic violence in other parts of the fragile country as fighting between Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Force (RSF) escalated today at dawn.
So far, at least 100 civilians have been killed amid fears majority are still unaccounted for and tens of rival military soldiers have been reportedly killed.
Heavy artillery engagement, gunfire and explosions marked today’s daybreak at dawn as Sudan’s military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the commander of the paramilitary RSF, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo alias Hemedti fight for the control of the country.
Yesterday evening, through a virtual meeting, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) called for an immediate cessation of hostilities between the warring parties in Sudan.
President William Ruto asked IGAD leaders to take a firm position on the crisis to restore peace in the country.
Those in the emergency session were Presidents Salva Kiir (South Sudan), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Ismail Omar Guelleh (Djibouti) and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somalia).
The leaders called on the Transitional Sovereign Council General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo to stop the war and return to the negotiation table.
Also, Sudan state television has since cut its transmission, a move that employees said was aimed at preventing the broadcast of propaganda by a paramilitary force that was battling the army for control of the capital.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces said it had taken control of state TV and other strategic facilities as fighting erupted around Khartoum on Saturday, claims that were refuted by the army.
Also, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) yesterday announced it had temporarily halted all operations in Sudan after three of its employees were killed in the raging clashes.
“While we review the evolving security situation, we are forced to temporarily halt all operations in Sudan.” WFP executive director Cindy McCain said in a statement.
“WFP is committed to assisting the Sudanese people facing dire food insecurity, but we cannot do our lifesaving work if the safety and security of our teams and partners is not guaranteed.” The statement added.
