conflicts
Another ceasefire agreed in Sudan
British nationals are evacuated aboard an RAF plane to Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus. photo
© Po Phot Arron Hoare/UK Ministry of Defence/PA Media/dpa
The rival military blocs in Sudan again agree on a ceasefire – the last one only held sporadically. Meanwhile, Boris Pistorius receives soldiers who were involved in the evacuations.
Rival military blocs in Sudan yesterday agreed to extend the ceasefire by a further 72 hours. This was announced by the countries involved in mediation, the USA and Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, according to eyewitness reports, fighting continued. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) and the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, General Carsten Breuer, want to receive the soldiers of the Bundeswehr in Wunstorf near Hanover today, who have flown more than 700 people out of the north-east African country.
In Sudan, de facto President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has been fighting his deputy Mohammed Hamdan Daglo with the help of the military since April 15. He is the leader of the influential paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The two generals had taken over the leadership of the country with around 46 million inhabitants through two joint military coups in 2019 and 2021. Experts had warned that the power struggle could fuel other regional conflicts again.
Ceasefire held only sporadically
A first 72-hour ceasefire had been in force in Sudan since Tuesday. She expired last night. During this time, thousands of civilians were able to flee, including to Chad and Egypt, and several countries evacuated their nationals and other people from the crisis country. This ceasefire also only lasted sporadically. Both sides accused each other of repeatedly breaking the ceasefire. According to the UN special envoy in Sudan, Volker Perthes, yesterday the Sudanese armed forces first agreed to negotiations in Juba, the capital of neighboring South Sudan. The RSF also agreed late in the evening.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted that the US welcomed the announcement that it would extend the ceasefire by another 72 hours. “Together with international and regional partners, we call on the parties to pledge to end the fighting and ensure unhindered humanitarian access.” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “We are continually working to allow American citizens to exit Sudan immediately, as the situation could deteriorate at any time.”
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly also confirmed on Twitter that the ceasefire in Sudan had been extended. “The UK calls for its full implementation by the generals.” The British evacuation flights are underway. All UK nationals wishing to leave the country should make their way to the airport as soon as possible to ensure their safety.
Conflicts also on the border with Chad
The situation is also critical in the West Darfur region. The army announced yesterday that there were ethnic conflicts in the state. According to reports, there has been violence between the African-born Masalit and Arab-born groups. The state of West Darfur is located in the extreme west of Sudan on the border with Chad. Serious ethnic conflicts have been raging throughout the Darfur region for decades.
In Wunstorf near Hanover, the performance of the Bundeswehr soldiers is to be honored with a so-called returnee appeal. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) is expected as a guest, as are members of the Bundestag from the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees.
According to the Bundeswehr, in cooperation with the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Police, more than 700 people from more than 40 nations were flown out of Sudan from Sunday to Wednesday. Among them were more than 200 Germans. The staging point of the operation was a military airfield near Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. At times around 1,000 soldiers were involved in the evacuation operation. The Bundestag had subsequently approved the deployment of the Bundeswehr on Wednesday with an unusually clear majority.