Hectic scenes in Khartoum continue on as conflict between the Sudanese military and the splinter paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rages on in the Sudanese capital, resulting in mass evacuation of locals and foreign nationals. This comes about as a result of prolonged political instability in Sudan, especially ever since the power-sharing government established after the overthrowing of former President Omar al-Bashir was toppled by the military in 2021. The head of the armed forces (Abdel Fattah al-Burhan) and his deputy are at odds concerning how to restore order to Sudanese society, with the deputy (Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo, a.k.a Hemedti) actually being the leader of the RSF. The RSF claims to represent marginalised groups against the country's elites but they have been accused of ethnic cleansing and rape in Darfur, and robbing citizens trying to leave Khartoum. 

 

Both sides of this agreement had agreed to a 24-hour humanitarian ceasefire on Tuesday, but this collapsed within minutes of its proposed launch at 16:00 GMT. As fighting resumed in the capital on Wednesday morning, civilians began to flee early, with Khartoum being covered in thick black smoke following explosions near the army headquarters. Despite this, a new ceasefire has now been drawn up for the same time but on Wednesday instead.

 

Fuel shortages and the absence of public transport has seen many of those fleeing on foot, with some seeking to get passage to central and western Sudan on flatbed trucks in order to reunite with relatives. The death toll caused by the ongoing conflict is also unclear, but the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) said on Tuesday that at least 174 civilians had been killed in the violence. UN officials however predict the number of dead as being higher than the official recorded total at 185, with more than 1.800 being injured.