Also at the end of Ramadan: the end of the fighting in Sudan is not yet in sight

Hopes for a ceasefire in Sudan at the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan were initially dashed. 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.

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.

Americans died

Meanwhile, the US government confirmed the death of a US citizen in Sudan. The US State Department made this known on request on Thursday evening (local time). You have contact with the family. The ministry is not providing further details. The person’s identity and how he died were open.

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.

Thousands of civilians are trapped

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/dpa)