Khartoum, 17 April 2023, (GNP): Sudan’s capital city of Khartoum is rattled by explosions for the third consecutive day as fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensifies. The death toll has raised to 97, with many civilians caught in the crossfire.
In response, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called for an immediate truce and a return to negotiations between the warring factions during a meeting of G7 nations. Secretary Blinken emphasized that the Sudanese people want democracy, a civilian-led government, and for the military to return to the barracks.
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The ongoing conflict is the result of a power struggle between army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who heads the RSF group. The two generals were previously allies and were responsible for orchestrating the October 2021 military coup that disrupted Sudan’s transition process to democratic rule and elections.
The coup was widely condemned internationally, with the United States and other countries imposing sanctions on Sudan. The current conflict between the military and the RSF is only adding to the already fragile political situation in Sudan.
The Sudanese people are bearing the brunt of the conflict, with many losing their lives or being forced to leave their homes. The fighting has also had a severe impact on the country’s economy, with businesses shutting down and essential services disrupted. The United States and other countries are calling on the Sudanese military and RSF to engage in dialogue and find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.