Sudan battles rage as conflict enters second week
The Sudanese army and paramilitary group RSF began a violent power struggle last Saturday that has since killed more than 400 people.
The Sudanese capital of Khartoum is still fighting fiercely between warring factions that have plunged the country into chaos, with foreign expatriates preparing to flee under military escort.
The Sudanese military said Saturday it is coordinating efforts to evacuate diplomats from the United States, Britain, China and France from the country by military jets.
Diplomats and their families from Saudi Arabia had already arrived from Sudan. Jordanian nationals would later leave.
Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan spoke to leaders and requested the safe evacuation of their citizens and diplomats from Sudan, which has been ravaged by bloody fighting over the past week.
Countries are struggling to repatriate their citizens amid deadly clashes that have left more than 400 people dead so far. With Sudan’s main international airport closed, other countries have ordered their citizens to simply shelter in place until they can devise evacuation plans.
Al-Burhan said diplomats from Saudi Arabia had already been evacuated from Port Sudan and flown back to the kingdom. He said Jordanian diplomats would soon be evacuated in the same way.
Safe enough to venture out?
Fighting in Sudan’s capital entered a second week on Saturday as crackling gunfire shattered a temporary truce.
Al-Burhan’s army has been battling the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Mohamed “Hemdti” Hamdan Dagalo.
Heavy gunfire, loud explosions and fighter jets roared in many parts of Khartoum on Saturday as terrified civilians huddled in their homes.
Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan, reporting from Khartoum, said it remains to be seen if the foreigners can get to safety. Some captive Sudanese, meanwhile, say they are too afraid to venture outside the battle zone.
“Many people we spoke to say they don’t believe it’s safe enough to leave their homes, with many still trapped near the presidential palace and military headquarters,” Morgan said, adding that other foreigners , also from Hungary, had been able to evacuate via Egypt.
“While the evacuation is planned, no one knows if they will be able to get out safely to get on those planes and leave Sudan,” she said.
Witnesses reported a major battle in northern Khartoum between Sudanese forces and RSF fighters using airstrikes, artillery and small arms fire.
‘pay the price’
Meanwhile, many civilians report that basic supplies such as water and food are running out after seven days of war.
Moez Ahmed, a resident of Khartoum, told Al Jazeera in an emotional voice: “I want to say to both leaders: ‘We are the citizens. We pay the price. We are not meant to live in this situation.’”
Sudan borders seven countries and lies between Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Africa’s volatile Sahel region. The hostilities threaten to fuel regional tensions.
The violence was sparked by disagreements over an internationally backed plan to form a new civilian government, four years after the fall of authoritarian leader Omar al-Bashir and two years after a military coup. Both sides accuse each other of thwarting the transition.
Calls for a ‘complete’ ceasefire
RSF leader Hemedti said early on Saturday that he received a call from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The two “emphasized the need to adhere to a full ceasefire and provide protection to humanitarian and medical workers, particularly UN personnel and regional and international organizations,” Hemedti said in a post on his official Facebook page. account.
The RSF said late on Friday it was ready to partially open all of Sudan’s airports to allow foreign governments to evacuate their nationals.
The group said in a statement that it would “coordinate, coordinate and provide all facilities to enable expatriates and missions to safely leave the country”.
It was unclear to what extent the RSF controls Sudanese airports. Khartoum airport is involved in battles with planes burning on the tarmac, and commercial airlines suspended flights several days ago.
More gunshots were reported from the airport on Saturday.