New truce agreed in Sudan after fighting intensifies

KHARTOUM — A fresh cease-fire took effect in Sudan on Sunday after intense fighting that saw deadly airstrikes in the capital Khartoum.

The Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, commanded by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has since April 15 been battling the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, after the two fell out in a power struggle.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America announce the agreement of representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces on a cease-fire throughout Sudan for a period of 72 hours," a Saudi foreign ministry statement said on Saturday.

The cease-fire was to take effect at 6 am on Sunday, the mediators said, adding the two sides had agreed to refrain from attacks and allow freedom of movement and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

One hour into the truce, witnesses in Khartoum said the situation was "calm".

"We want a full cease-fire," Sami Omar, who lives in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman, told Agence France-Presse. "A truce is not sufficient for us to return to our lives. They may stop fighting, but the RSF will not leave the homes (they occupy) and passing through checkpoints is just as difficult."

Both sides had pledged to respect the truce in separate statements on Saturday night.

The army said that "despite our commitment to the cease-fire, we will respond decisively to any violations the rebels commit" during the cease-fire.

The RSF vowed to "honor our commitment to a comprehensive cessation of hostilities … with the primary aim of facilitating the delivery of vital humanitarian assistance to civilians".

Before the latest truce, witnesses said airstrikes had intensified in the capital in the previous few days.

On Saturday, warplanes struck residential districts of Khartoum, killing "17 people, including five children", according to a citizens' support committee.

Since battles began, the death toll across the country has topped 2,000, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project said.

A record 25 million people, more than half of Sudan's population, need aid, the United Nations says.

On Saturday, a supply ship loaded with hundreds of tons of relief aid from Egypt had arrived in Sudan, the Egyptian military announced.

The military spokesman Gharib Abdel-Hafez said in a statement that the Egyptian navy ship had arrived at Port Sudan and unloaded hundreds of tons of foodstuff, medical supplies and other aid material.

A number of Egyptian and Sudanese nationals boarding the returning ship have arrived in Egypt, he said.

Agencies - Xinhua