SW News: The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) agreed to a statewide ceasefire that began at midnight of April 24th for 72 hours. After 48 hours of tough negotiations mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia, the SAF and the paramilitary decided on the truce. This comes after the failure of previous attempted ceasefires.
Even though the warring parties declared a ceasefire, fighting broke out again in Sudan late Tuesday. A UN envoy said the truce was held in certain areas, but there was no indication that the parties were prepared for real negotiations.
Following the ceasefire declaration, US State Secretary Antony Blinken assured, "We will continue to work with the Sudanese parties and our partners toward the shared goal of a return to civilian government in Sudan."
He further called civilians, stakeholders, and international partners for negotiation and implementation of permanent cessation of hostilities in the country.
However, the security situation in the North African country has drastically deteriorated, forcing numerous nations to evacuate their nationals and officials. The three-day national ceasefire intended to aid with evacuations and humanitarian activities is holding.
Separately, the World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson in Sudan was alarmed about a high risk of a biological hazard in the capital after one of the fighting sides seized a lab containing dangerous measles and cholera germs.
Dr. Nima Saeed Abid, the WHO's representative in Sudan, told journalists that technicians could not enter the National Public Health Laboratory to secure the material.
Meanwhile, according to the most recent statistics from the WHO, fighting that broke out between the Sudanese armed forces and paramilitary RSF on April 15 has resulted in at least 459 deaths and 4,072 injuries.
The fighting has also shut down hospitals and other vital services, leaving many people isolated in their homes with decreasing food and water supplies. Since the fighting started, the WHO has documented 14 attacks on medical institutions and is relocating its workers to safer areas.