Ongoing violence: death toll in Sudan continues to rise

The number of civilian casualties in the fighting in Sudan continues to rise. At least 97 people were killed, doctors report. A humanitarian pause in the fighting was apparently ignored after a few hours. Now the UN Security Council wants to discuss the situation.

The power struggle in Sudan between the army and the paramilitary group “Rapid Support Force” (RSF) is costing more and more lives.

At least 97 civilians have died so far, according to the Reuters news agency, which cites the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors. 365 people were injured. The information cannot be independently verified at this time.

On Sunday evening, the World Health Organization reported 83 dead and at least 1,126 injured. The United Nations Security Council in New York wants to discuss the situation today.

Unclear situation in Khartoum

Meanwhile, serious clashes continue. Residents in the capital Khartoum continue to report sustained gunfire and explosions – and fighting is also going on in other parts of the country – for example in the Red Sea port city of Port Sudan and in the city of Merowe, which has a major airport.

The army appears to be focusing its attacks on barracks and bases, witnesses and local residents told Reuters. The soldiers attacked from the air, it was said. The military is also trying to regain control of a large part of the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum.

In view of the confusing situation and contradictory information, it is difficult to judge which conflict party will have the upper hand in the ongoing fighting. Both the Sudanese armed forces under the command of de facto President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF, led by his deputy Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, are spreading reports of success that are difficult to verify.

Humanitarian lull largely ignored

The parties originally agreed yesterday on a three-hour lull in fighting to allow for humanitarian evacuations proposed by the United Nations, according to the UN mission in Sudan. However, after a brief period, the agreement was largely ignored.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attacks and tweeted that those responsible should be held to account immediately: “The ongoing clashes in Sudan have resulted in the deaths and injuries of civilians, including three of our WFP -colleagues (UN World Food Program) who were killed while doing their job.”

The World Food Program temporarily suspended its work in the country. Director Cindy McCain said they are committed to helping the Sudanese people who are facing extreme food shortages. “But we cannot do our lifesaving work without the safety of our teams and partners.”

UN Special Envoy Volker Perthes also said he was appalled by reports of shelling and looting affecting the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies.

Overwhelmed hospitals

Due to the heavy fighting in Khartoum at the weekend, the hospitals in the capital, in which around six million people live, are completely overwhelmed, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

Many of the nine clinics that take in injured civilians lack medical supplies such as blood supplies and transfusion supplies. Water and power outages and a lack of fuel for the hospitals’ power generators further restricted operations. Specialists such as anesthesiologists were also missing.

Smoke rises above a residential area in Khartoum.

Image: AFP

The military and RSF reject negotiations

Appeals to end the military conflicts are increasing around the world. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, US Secretary of Defense Antony Blinken and the Arab League all expressed concern. The countries of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates urged the Sudanese military and the RSF to agree on a ceasefire and return to the negotiating table.

The African Union Security Council held an emergency meeting over the weekend. The Egyptian Presidential Office said Egypt and South Sudan had offered to mediate in the escalating conflict.

Escalated power struggle

RSF leader Daglo told Al Jazeera that his fighters aim to capture all army bases. The militia called on the population to rise up against the military government. In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Daglo demanded: “Al-Burhan, the criminal, must surrender.”

The army, for its part, declared Daglo a “wanted criminal” and the RSF a “rebel militia”. According to her, there will be “no negotiations or talks until the group is dissolved”.