That concludes The New Arab's live coverage of the clashes in Sudan for today.
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Sudan army agrees to 24-hour ceasefire from Tuesday evening, general says
Sudanese general Shams El Din Kabbashi also said two neighbouring countries are trying to provide aid to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, without naming the countries.
6 min read
Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, is the head of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces [Mahmoud Hjaj/Anadolu Agency/Getty-archive]
Sudanese general Shams El Din Kabbashi said the army had agreed on a 24-hour ceasefire, starting at 6pm (1600 GMT) on Tuesday, following days of clashes between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
He also told Saudi broadcaster Al-Arabiya that two neighbouring countries are trying to provide aid to the RSF, without naming the countries.
It comes after Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, tweeted earlier on Tuesday the RSF reaffirms its approval of a 24-hour ceasefire to ensure the safe passage of civilians and the evacuation of the wounded.
Fighting between Sudan's army and the RSF that erupted on Saturday has killed at least 185 people and injured more than 1,800, UN envoy Volker Perthes said on Monday.
Hemedti accused the Sudanese Armed Forces in his series of tweets of failing to "honour the ceasefire, bombing densely populated areas from the air and endangering civilian lives".
Following a conversation with U.S. Secretary of State @SecBlinken and outreach by other friendly nations similarly calling for a temporary ceasefire, The RSF reaffirms its approval of a 24 HR armistice to ensure the safe passage of civilians and the evacuation of the wounded. 1/4
— Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (@GeneralDagllo) April 18, 2023
But Sudan's army at the time denied knowledge of any 24-hour ceasefire.
"We have entered a critical phase and our efforts are focused on achieving goals on an operational level," the army said in a statement following days of clashes with the RSF.
Gunfire echoed across Sudan's capital for a fourth day on Tuesday, accompanied by the sound of warplanes and explosions, a Reuters reporter said.
Residents in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman, on the other side of the Nile, also reported airstrikes that shook buildings and anti-aircraft fire.
Blinken, the American secretary of state, said a US diplomatic convoy came under fire on Monday in an apparent attack by fighters associated with the RSF, adding that all those in the convoy were safe.
He called the incident "reckless" and said any attacks or threats to US diplomats were unacceptable.
Blinken, speaking in Japan, said he had telephoned both Hemedti and Sudan's army chief General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, appealing for a 24-hour ceasefire "to allow the Sudanese to be safely reunited with families" and to provide them with relief.
The RSF's Hemedti, whose whereabouts have not been disclosed since fighting began, said he had "discussed pressing issues" with Blinken during their call and more talks were planned.
(Reuters)
Featured image credit: AFP via Getty Images
5:55 PM
5:54 PM
UN rights chief says both sides 'must remind fighters of obligations under international law'
UN rights chief Volker Türk calls both sides involved in the clashes in Sudan to remind their fighters of their international law obligations in a statement published by his office.
He says: "Sudan has already endured so much pain and suffering. The fighting is born out of power games and personal interests that only serve to alienate the democratic aspirations of the population.
"Do those responsible not understand that the civilian population now only craves a peaceful life?"
Turk adds: "Thousands upon thousands of civilians are trapped in their homes, shielding from the fighting, with no electricity, unable to venture out and worried about running out of food, drinking water and medicine.
"Both parties must remind their fighters of their obligations under international law to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals, and they must ensure that these obligations are respected."
Türk additionally says reports of attempted rapes have appalled him.
Türk is UN rights chief [Chepa Beltran/Long Visual Press/Universal Images/Getty-archive]
4:07 PM
France's foreign minister raises Sudan 'crisis' with Egypt, UAE
France's foreign minister says she has raised the "ongoing crisis" in Sudan with her Egyptian and Emirati counterparts.
"France urges both Sudanese sides to immediately accept a truce, stop fighting and ensure civilians' safety," adds Catherine Colonna in a tweet.
"I'm closely monitoring the situation of our nationals."
"I raised the ongoing crisis in #Sudan with the Min. of Foreign Affairs from #Egypt and the #UAE.
— France Diplomacy🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@francediplo_EN) April 18, 2023
France urges both Sudanese sides to immediately accept a truce, stop fighting and ensure civilians' safety.
I'm closely monitoring the situation of our nationals." https://t.co/KROxe6dbJi
2:49 PM
People leaving from Sudan's capital Khartoum
2:17 PM
To better understand why fighting has erupted in Sudan, check out this explainer article by The New Arab's Ali Abbas Ahmadi.
2:09 PM
Sudan's army, paramilitary RSF race to control strategic locations
Sudan's army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are racing to control strategic locations in the capital Khartoum and other cities, The New Arab's Arabic sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports.
These include:
- The army headquarters in the centre of Khartoum
- The RSF headquarters in Khartoum
- Khartoum International Airport
- Merowe Airport
1:36 PM
Red Cross, WHO urge Sudan's warring parties to guarantee humanitarian access
The Red Cross and the World Health Organization have urged Sudan's warring parties to guarantee humanitarian access for those in need as the death toll in the fighting neared 200.
"We have thousands of volunteers who are ready, able and trained to perform humanitarian services" in the country, said Farid Aiywar, the Sudan head of delegation for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
"Unfortunately, due to the current situation, they are not able to move," he told reporters in Geneva, via video-link from Nairobi.
Aiywar called on all parties to allow humanitarian aid corridors to operate.
UN spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci said the United Nations had about 800 international staff and 3,200 national staff in Sudan.
"We are of course worried for the security, they cannot operate in a regular way," she said.
12:37 PM
Sudan army agrees to 24-hour ceasefire, general says
Sudanese army general Shams El Din Kabbashi told Saudi broadcaster Al-Arabiya on Tuesday that two neighbouring countries are trying to provide aid to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), without naming the countries.
Kabbashi said the army had agreed on a 24-hour ceasefire, starting at 6pm (1600 GMT), following days of clashes between the army and the RSF.
11:26 AM
IFRC: 'Almost impossible to provide any humanitarian services in and around Khartoum'
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) says it's nearly impossible to provide humanitarian services around the Sudanese capital Khartoum and warns that the country's health system was at risk of collapse.
"The truth is that at the moment it is almost impossible to provide any humanitarian services in and around Khartoum," Farid Aiywar, IFRC head of delegation for Sudan, tells reporters on Tuesday via video link from Nairobi.
"There are calls from various organisations and people trapped asking for evacuation."
Aiywar warns that if disruptions to the Sudanese health system persisted, "it will almost go into a collapse".
(Reuters)
10:05 AM
RSF says fighting battle to restore 'rights of our people'
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary says it's fighting a battle to restore "the rights of our people".
"The new revolution… is still continuing to achieve its noble goals, foremost of which is the formation of a civil government that will lead us towards a real democratic transition," the RSF added in a statement.
(Reuters)
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