SW News: The latest ceasefire for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha in Sudan between the army and the Rapid Support Forces failed to hold as fighting flares in the capital Khartoum. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are still at odds in the country's ongoing conflict. And despite the growing bloodshed, both sides blame each other for starting the war.
A 48-hour unilateral truce was announced earlier this week by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the head of the RSF, and it started on Tuesday, June 27. He declared that his troops would hold their positions and use force solely to defend themselves. He also announced the release of 100 army captives at the same time.
However, as artillery and gunfire could be heard in Khartoum's northern neighborhoods by Wednesday, it was evident that the ceasefire was not holding. Residents of the region reported being shaken by air strikes.
The conflict between warring military factions that began in mid-April caused a major humanitarian crisis and displaced nearly 2.8 million people. People also reported that looting and robbery have become commonplace in Khartoum, with some areas stripped of possessions.
Numerous ceasefire agreements, including several mediated by Saudi Arabia and the United States, have fallen through during this period.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Refugee Agency warned that conflict in the country would force at least one million people to flee across its borders. So far, the conflict has caused nearly 600,000 people to escape to neighboring countries, including Egypt, Chad, South Sudan, and other African countries.