Sudanese Military And RSF Accuse Each Other Of Violating Ceasefire

Illustration of the evacuation of US citizens from Sudan. (Wikimedia Commons/SSgt Robert L. Fisher III)

JAKARTA - Sudanese military (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Tuesday (2/4) exchanged fire in Sudan's capital Khartoum, and accused each other of violating the 72-hour ceasefire which ended on Wednesday midnight.

In a statement, the Sudanese military said the situation across Sudan was stable, except for sporadic clashes with RSFs in a number of areas in Khartoum.

It was also stated that the RSF paramilitary did not obey the ceasefire, by shooting at a number of locations including residential areas.

As reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 3, the RSF blamed the Sudanese military for violating the humanitarian ceasefire, claiming that it was battling a "coup force" within the Sudanese military consisting of elements of the previous regime.

550 people were killed and thousands of others injured in fighting between two hostile generals in Sudan, namely military commander Abdel FattahAl Burhan and paramilitary commander RSF Mohammed Hamdan 'Hemedti' Dagalo, since April 15, according to Sudan's Ministry of Health.

Differences of views between the two sides on military reform have escalated in recent months regarding the integration of the RSF into the military, which is the main requirement in Sudan's transitional agreement with political groups.

Sudan without a functional government since October 2021 when the military dissolved Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's transitional government and declared an emergency status, which the country's political powers criticized as a "coup".

The transition period for Sudan, which began in August 2019 after President OmarAlBashir was removed, and is planned to end with elections in early 2024.