Sudan’s military rivals trade accusations of violating temporary cease-fire

By Anadolu Staff

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) exchanged accusations on Wednesday of violating a temporary cease-fire.

The two military rivals agreed on Tuesday to a 24-hour cease-fire to ensure a safe passage of civilians and evacuation of the wounded.

But the RSF accused the army of violating the cease-fire deal by “mobilizing military forces and armed militias” from several cities towards the capital Khartoum.

“The army continued attacks with heavy weapons against our positions and fired bombs indiscriminately, killing and wounding dozens and destroying hospitals, public facilities and markets,” it added.

The army, for its part, accused the paramilitary force of “attacking civilians, looting their possessions and burning a marketplace in the Bahri neighborhood” near Khartoum.

At least 270 people have been killed and 2,600 others injured in armed clashes between the army and the RSF fighters since Saturday in Khartoum and its surrounding areas, according to the Health Ministry.

While the RSF accused the army of attacking its forces south of Khartoum with light and heavy weapons, the military said the paramilitary force was "spreading lies" and declared it a "rebel" group.

A disagreement between the two military rivals regarding military and security reform, which envisages the full participation of the RSF in the army, has turned into a hot conflict in the last few months.

The dispute between the two sides came to the surface last week, when the army said recent movements by the RSF had occurred without coordination and were illegal.

Sudan has been without a functioning government since October 2021, when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s transitional government and declared a state of emergency in a move decried by political forces as a “coup.”

Sudan’s transitional period, which started in August 2019, was scheduled to end with elections in early 2024.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar