Peace prevails as new 24-hour ceasefire begins in Sudan
Khartoum, June 10 (EFE).- The 24-hour ceasefire between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) started on Saturday, with relative quiet in Khartoum, the country’s capital and one of the most violent regions in the power struggle that began on April 15.
The warring groups agreed on Friday to the nationwide 24-hour truce mediated by Saudi Arabia and the United States.
As the truce started, there was more traffic on the streets on the eastern side of the capital amid an increased activity at grocery stores.
Paramilitary troopers were present, but they avoided searching vehicles and spent time talking to street vendors while sipping tea or coffee.
Resident Hasan Bushbar told EFE that all sides must abide by the ceasefire to allow people to live a normal life and receive their paychecks, which have been suspended since the start of the conflict.
However, Sally al Tayeb, an architect, expressed pessimism.
She told EFE that based on their previous history of ceasefires, she didn’t believe the army and the paramilitary group would hold on to the truce.
She alleged that the warring sides “do not care about the suffering of the citizens, which has reached an intolerable state.”
While agreeing on to the ceasefire, the two sides warned Friday that they would react if they noticed any action that threatened them. But neither of them provided updates on the truce or accused the other of breaking it.
Saudi Arabia and the US announced that the two parties had agreed to the 24-hour ceasefire, one of the shortest since the start of the conflict, which has already claimed 850 lives.
The statement said that during the ceasefire, the two sides “agreed that they will refrain from prohibited movements, attacks, use of aircraft or drones, aerial bombardment, artillery strikes, reinforcement of positions, and resupply of forces, and will refrain from seeking military advantage during the truce.”
They also said they would allow the unimpeded movement and delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the country.
The key mediators, Saudi Arabia and the US, proposed the initiative to “break the cycle of violence,” warning that if the parties do not observe the truce, “they will be obliged to consider postponing the talks in Jeddah.”
During previous ceasefires, the army, led by President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, led by Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, traded accusations of violating numerous truces and targeting civilian facilities, including hospitals and residential buildings in the capital.
The fighting in Sudan has taken its toll on the healthcare system, leaving it on the brink of collapse with at least 850 people dead and over 5,500 others injured.
According to the United Nations, around 1.3 million people have been forced to flee their homes amid the fighting. EFE
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