A new day of escalation and fighting is witnessed in Sudanese cities on Wednesday, as the Sudanese army urges citizens to stay away from Rapid Support Forces gathering areas across the country and avoid any harm that may befall them, accusing the Rapid Support Forces of using civilians as human shields and utilizing their homes and surrounding areas of military sites in South Kordofan, North and East Darfur, and other areas. The army affirmed that Rapid Support Forces gatherings will be legitimate military targets.
Field Developments
Meanwhile, the Sudanese army continued its advance towards new areas in West Omdurman on Wednesday after seizing control of the “Doha” neighborhood and other areas on the outskirts of the Libya Market, the largest local markets in Omdurman.
A military official told “Sudan Tribune” that the army officially began reclaiming all of Omdurman’s localities, most of which are currently under the control of Rapid Support Forces.
He revealed that the army managed yesterday to take control of the suburb of “Doha” after fierce battles led against the Rapid Support Forces, inflicting severe casualties, with more than 30 killed and a large number of wounded and prisoners.
He clarified that a force from the army, supported by the Tenth Battalion of the Justice and Equality Movement, continued to advance westward until reaching the outskirts of the Libya Market, which is fully controlled by the Rapid Support Forces and heavily deployed.
In the Khartoum North Bahri area, the Sudanese army continued to destroy military vehicles belonging to the Rapid Support Forces. It announced the destruction of eight vehicles belonging to the Rapid Support Forces, indicating that the artillery destroyed a site where one of the Rapid Support Forces leaders was entrenched, resulting in his and his companions’ death.
At the brink of famine
The fighting between the Sudanese army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemetti” erupted in mid-April last year with the escalation of tensions that had been accumulating for a long time.
Since its outbreak, the war has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands, forced millions to flee, and pushed the impoverished state to the brink of famine.
The conflict has resulted in the world’s largest displacement crisis, driving sectors of the 49-million population to the brink of famine, sparking waves of racially motivated killings and sexual violence in the Darfur region in the west.
Resumption of negotiations
U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello expressed hope on Tuesday for the resumption of dialogue between the conflicting parties in Sudan after Ramadan and working to prevent a broader regional war, despite the failure of previous negotiations.
The former congressman, recently appointed as envoy to Sudan after a tour of seven countries, stated that talks, led by Saudi Arabia, might begin around April 18.
He told reporters upon his return to Washington, “Anyone who thinks the road is paved for either party to achieve a clear victory should clearly realize at this stage that the situation is not so.”
He added, “The war of attrition … not only represents a disaster for civilians, but it can easily exacerbate divisions further and become a regional war.”
Previous negotiation rounds have resulted only in general pledges to halt the conflict in Sudan, which has been undergoing a challenging transition to democracy.
