No end to the fighting in Sudan in sight

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According to a reporter for the German news agency, there were still explosions and rocket attacks in the capital Khartoum on Friday night. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the Arab League had previously called for the holiday season to be used to call for a ceasefire. Since Saturday, the army has been fighting against the once allied paramilitary unit Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for power in the Northeast African country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the death toll has risen to about 330 and 3,200 people have been injured so far.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) also called for a ceasefire on Twitter on Thursday evening. In addition, the federal government is doing everything it can to help German citizens in Sudan. The Bundeswehr had to stop a first attempt to get German citizens out of the country on Wednesday for security reasons. According to information from the German news agency, a plan for the deployment of the Luftwaffe was halted due to the uncertain situation in the disputed capital of Khartoum.

Meanwhile, the deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Johann Wadephul, criticized the government’s information policy on a possible evacuation mission in Sudan. The Bundeswehr has proven that it can carry out such difficult operations, the CDU politician told editorial network Germany (RND, Friday). “But it is important that the federal government seeks close contact with parliament in such a critical phase, also about questions about a possible mandate. The current information policy is unacceptable.”

The US government also called for an end to violence in the country. According to his ministry, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held separate talks on Thursday with de facto President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who is also the commander-in-chief of the military, and RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan Daglo. During the talks, he asked both to sign a ceasefire.

The gold and oil-rich country of about 46 million inhabitants has been ruled since 2019 by a transitional military government, which should start a democratization process this month. Recurring violence and numerous conflicts left nearly 16 million people in the country dependent on humanitarian aid even before the current fighting began, according to the UN.

According to the United Nations, thousands of Khartoum residents have been trapped in their homes for days, many without electricity or running water. Food, petrol and medicines ran out. Only a few shops were open on Thursday and markets in the city were closed, according to a dpa reporter. In addition, the health care system has all but collapsed, according to the Sudanese medical commission. According to eyewitnesses, bodies lay in the streets of the capital. Welthungerhilfe warned of “a humanitarian tragedy”.

The World Food Program (WFP) warned on Thursday evening that millions more Sudanese could face hardship from the current conflict. It has temporarily suspended its food and cash aid. Children’s charity UNICEF said the escalating violence puts millions of children at risk. At least nine children were killed and more than 50 injured in the fighting.

Attacks on aid organizations and employees of international organizations have also increased in recent days. Particularly in the Darfur region in the west of the country, non-governmental organizations reported that offices and warehouses were looted. According to the WFP, about 4,000 tons of food has been stolen from South Darfur for starving people.

(SDA)

Source: Blick