Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have agreed to prolong a 72-hour cease-fire. Meanwhile, the UN has dispatched its top humanitarian envoy in response to the “unprecedented” crisis. DW has the most recent information.
Sudanese Armed Forces agreed on Sunday to prolong a 72-hour truce with their paramilitary enemies, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), that was set to expire at midnight local time.
It is the latest in a series of truces that have generally been broken by both sides.
According to the army, the expansion was made possible through “US and Saudi mediation.”
The RSF had previously stated that they had agreed to extend a humanitarian cease-fire for another three days.
“In response to international, regional and local calls, we announce the extension of the humanitarian truce for 72 hours, starting from midnight tonight,” the RSF said on Twitter.
The paramilitary force said it had given its approval for the cease-fire “in order to open humanitarian corridors and facilitate the movement of citizens and residents and enable them to fulfil their needs and reach safe areas.”
Despite the declaration of a 72-hour ceasefire on Thursday, clashes continued over the weekend, with both sides accusing the other of breaking the deal.
Sudan’s de facto commander, Army Chief Abdel Fattah Burhan, has been at odds with his ex-deputy, RSF Commander Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo.
According to the Sudanese Health Ministry, over 500 people have perished in the battle, which is now in its third week.
According to the Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate, which tracks deaths in the conflict, 425 people have been killed and 2,091 have been injured.
