Sudan’s capital was filled with the sounds of explosions and gunfire on Thursday as the fight between two rival generals continued with no signs of stopping before the end of Ramadan. The clashes began on Saturday between the army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s loyalists and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The fighting has resulted in the deaths of almost 300 people, and the most intense battles have occurred in Khartoum, home to five million people.
Residents have been trapped in their homes without basic necessities, such as electricity, food, and water. The violence persisted for the sixth day, despite multiple attempts at truces.
Witnesses have reported that gunfire did not stop during the agreed-upon ceasefire on Wednesday. The fighting has damaged both residential and commercial buildings and has caused civilians to flee the city.
Many hospitals have also been damaged, leading to a catastrophic healthcare situation, with up to 70% of hospitals in Khartoum and neighboring states being out of service.
The conflict between the two generals began over the integration of the RSF into the regular army, which is crucial for the democratic transition of Sudan.
The ongoing violence has led to the deaths of hundreds of civilians, and many countries are planning to evacuate foreigners from the country.
Burhan and Dagalo overthrew former President Omar al-Bashir in 2019 but worked together in a coup against the civilian government in October 2021, derailing the international effort to transition to democracy.
