1 of 6 | Sudanese army soldiers, loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, celebrate after they recaptured a military base that was seized by their rival Rapid Support Forces in Nyala city, Sudan on Tuesday. The United Nations says more than 180 people have been killed since the fighting began on Saturday between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Photo by Sudanese Armed Forces / UPI |
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April 18 (UPI) -- Heavy artillery and explosions were reported in Sudan after two rival generals agreed to a 24-hour cease-fire so that humanitarian aid could be delivered to citizens.
Sudan Armed Forces Commander Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo came to the agreement after speaking to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who reiterated his call for a cease-fire after a marked American diplomatic convoy came under fire amid fierce fighting between rival military factions.
"All of our people are safe and unharmed. But this action was reckless, it was irresponsible and of course unsafe -- a diplomatic convoy with diplomatic plates, a U.S. flag, being fired upon," Blinken told reporters in Nagano, Japan, where he is attending a gathering of G7 foreign ministers.
Blinken said he had called al-Burhan and Dagalo, urging them to agree to a 24-hour cease-fire to allow civilians to reunite with their relatives and safely venture outside their homes to obtain supplies.
"If implemented successfully, a cease-fire for 24 hours can create a foundation to build upon for a more sustained halt to the fighting and a return to negotiations on a durable end to the hostilities," he said.
However, some media outlets have reported that fighting continues despite the agreement.
According to Axios, United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said shortly after the truce was due to begin that "we have not had any confirmation [or] indication that this is holding."
Blinken added that he had underscored in both phone calls that Sudanese fighting forces bore responsibility for the safety and security of American and other diplomats in Sudan, as well as for the staff of the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies.
U.N. Envoy to Sudan Volker Perthes said at least 180 people had been killed, including three World Food Program workers, and more than 1,800 wounded in the fighting, with many more bodies laying in the streets.
Perthes, who has been mediating the transition to civilian rule following a 2019 military coup that ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir, said there was little sign of either side being inclined to come to the negotiating table.
"The two sides who are fighting are not giving the impression that they want mediation for a peace between them right away," he said.
Both groups claimed to have made advances on Monday.
U.S State Department spokesman John Kirby said there were no plans to evacuate U.S. personnel as Khartoum's airport closed after fires and explosions were seen in the area, but warned Americans that they needed to proceed "with the utmost seriousness."
Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin confirmed Tuesday that the European Union's ambassador to Sudan had been attacked in his home in Khartoum.
He said Aidan O'Hara suffered minor injuries but condemned the attack as a "gross violation of obligations to protect diplomats."
An ongoing power struggle between Burhan's SAF and Dagalo's RSF, who had been the head and deputy head of a joint administration, spilled over into armed conflict on Saturday.
