Fighting continues between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces for the second day in a row, in a sign that the two sides are not ready to end hostilities despite mounting diplomatic pressure for a ceasefire. The Sudanese army announced the control of its forces over the bases and headquarters of the Rapid Support Forces in seven states. He said in a statement posted on Facebook today (Sunday): "The forces took control of the bases and headquarters of the Rapid Support Forces in Port Sudan, Kassala, Gedaref, Damazin, Kosti and Kadugli." He added, "The members of the support forces fled from those sites, leaving all their equipment and vehicles."
The Sudanese army had confirmed its control of the largest base of the Rapid Support Forces in Karari (Jabal Sarkab) in Omdurman. He stated that the Army's 4th Infantry Division (Damazin) had received 35 Land Cruisers from the rebel Rapid Support Forces, with all their weapons and equipment. He denied the RSF's control of any headquarters of the General Command. In another statement, he said, "There is no truth to the rebel militia's claim that it has taken over or merely approached any of the headquarters of the General Command." He added that the fire that broke out in the ground forces tower was caused by the morning clashes, and it was brought under control and no one was hurt.
Among the most prominent high-ranking dead in the army and rapid support are the commander of the North Darfur sector with the rapid support, the commander of the western Darfur sector with the rapid support, the commander of the general command force of the Sudanese army, and the commander of the army base in Jabal Awliya. The Rapid Support Forces announced that they had taken control of the Navy Tower in the General Command.
The clashes came after months of escalating tensions between the army and its partner-turned-rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF). These tensions have delayed reaching an agreement with political parties to return the country to its short-lived, derailed transition to democracy.
Meanwhile, the diplomatic pressure appeared to be building, and senior diplomats, including the US Secretary of State, the UN Secretary-General, the European Union's foreign policy coordinator, the Secretary of the League of Arab States and the chairperson of the African Union Commission, urged the two sides to stop the fighting. The Arab countries called for a cease-fire and for the two sides to return to negotiations.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said he had consulted with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. He added in a statement early (Sunday): We agreed that it was necessary for the parties to end hostilities immediately without precondition.
Okaz (Khartoum) @okaz_online