Sudanese army intercepts drone attacks on cities after RSF agrees to truce

Army-backed authorities yet to springiness an authoritative effect to Quad’s connection for ceasefire starring to civilian rule.

Loud explosions person been heard successful Sudan’s army-held superior Khartoum, soon aft the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said it was acceptable for a truce aft warring the government-aligned Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) for much than 2 years of brutal civilian war.

The attacks took spot aboriginal Friday, targeting Omdruman, portion of the greater Khartoum area, and army-held Atbara to the northbound of the capital, and were intercepted by the army’s aerial defence systems, according to Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan.

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The time before, the RSF had responded positively to a ceasefire thought projected by the Quad, a radical comprising planetary mediators – the United States, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

SAF has yet to springiness an authoritative effect to the proposal, which would spot a three-month humanitarian intermission followed by a imperishable ceasefire that would ostensibly pave the mode for an eventual governmental modulation to civilian rule.

A Sudanese subject authoritative told the quality bureau The Associated Press connected Thursday that the service welcomed the proposal, but would lone hold to a truce erstwhile the RSF wholly withdraws from civilian areas and gives up weapons.

Reporting from Khartoum, Al Jazeera’s Morgan said that it seemed the service would proceed warring until the RSF met its conditions. The RSF, for its part, would besides proceed warring until the service agreed to the Quad’s proposal, she said.

Khartoum has seen comparative calm since the regular service regained power this year, but the RSF continues to equine attacks successful respective regions.

Conflict shifts east

On Thursday, the Sudan Tribune paper reported diplomatic claims that the US had tried to incentivise service main General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to hold to the truce successful speech for lifting sanctions and granting concern opportunities successful the mining sector.

The RSF’s announcement that it agreed to the truce comes much than a week aft the radical seized el-Fasher city, which had been nether siege for much than 18 months. It was besides the past Sudanese subject stronghold successful Sudan’s occidental Darfur region.

That takeover was accompanied by reports of wide killings, intersexual unit and looting, triggering planetary condemnation.

There are present fears of further atrocities arsenic the struggle shifts eastbound towards Khartoum and the oil-rich Kordofan region.

Quad subordinate the United Arab Emirates is accused by the United Nations of supplying arms to the RSF, allegations it has vehemently denied.

Asked connected Sunday astir the allegations, elder UAE diplomat Anwar Gargash said that the planetary assemblage made a “critical mistake” successful supporting some al-Burhan and rival RSF commandant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known arsenic “Hemedti”, erstwhile they deposed a Western-backed power-sharing authorities successful 2021.

War broke retired successful 2023 erstwhile tensions erupted betwixt al-Burhan and Dagalo, sidesplitting astatine slightest 40,000 people, according to WHO. Aid groups accidental the existent decease toll could beryllium galore times higher.

The worst suffering has befallen the civilian colonisation successful what the UN has called the world’s worst humanitarian disaster.