Fighting erupts in Khartoum ahead of Sudan peace talks in Saudi Arabia
Khartoum, May 14 (EFE).- The Sudanese military Sunday launched airstrikes on the rival paramilitary bases in Khartoum, ahead of ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia.
Negotiations are expected to resume in the Saudi kingdom on the terms that require the warring Sudanese troopers to ensure the entry of critical aid to civilians after a month of deadly fighting.
Some Khartoum residents told EFE that fighter jets from the Sudanese army again launched attacks on paramilitary group locations in the southern and central parts of the capital.
The attacks also targeted the southern region of the neighboring city of Omdurman, where the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (FAR) have taken over vital institutions since the fighting began on April 15.
Eyewitnesses reported street gunfights in several neighborhoods in the north and south of the capital.
As with previous clashes, none of the parties involved in the conflict have reported any casualties among their fighters in the recent attacks.
However, the Sudanese Army claimed to have killed “hundreds of rebels” in its “combing operations” in the capital over the last two days.
The clashes erupted as the two sides are reportedly finalizing preparations in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah for a new round of negotiations to ensure the safe and uninterrupted flow of international aid to Sudan. According to Arab media sources, the talks are scheduled to resume on Sunday.
Saudi Arabia and the United States are mediating the peace talks with the assistance of the United Nations.
The talks will primarily focus on developing a mechanism to implement the agreement reached on Thursday in Jeddah.
Under this agreement, the parties have committed to ensuring the uninterrupted flow of aid and the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel.
The dialogue will prioritize the agreement on safe passages for the transportation of aid and people and the commitment to refrain from using civilian facilities, particularly hospitals, for military purposes.
The Sudanese army and the paramilitary group have accused each other of violating the previous humanitarian truces, including the latest seven-day ceasefire, which ended on Thursday, coinciding with the signing of the Jeddah agreement.
According to the United Nations, the ongoing conflict has killed over 600 civilians, with more than 5,000 people sustaining injuries.
The fighting has also led to the displacement of around 200,000 people, the majority of whom are women and children, who have sought refuge in other countries. EFE
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