Reports: Fighting continues in Sudan after Ramadan ends

According to media reports, fighting in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum continued despite the start of celebrations to mark the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. The paramilitary units (Rapid Support Forces) rivaling the Sudanese armed forces had previously agreed to a ceasefire from Friday morning (06:00 CEST).

“The ceasefire coincides with the blessed Eid al-Fitr to open humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians and allow them to visit their families,” the group said in a statement on Twitter. However, there was initially no confirmation of the ceasefire by the Sudanese military.

In the first video message since fighting began over the weekend, de facto President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced Friday morning that he still wants to hand over power to a civilian government. According to media reports, the capital was bombed again in the morning and soldiers of the Sudanese army were said to have combed residential areas.

The US government is preparing to evacuate the embassy

The US government had previously announced that the US military was preparing to evacuate embassy personnel. The Ministry of Defense announced that additional units had been moved to neighboring countries. The plans must “secure or enable embassy staff to leave the country if necessary”. A decision has not yet been made, National Security Council communications director John Kirby said Thursday afternoon (local time) in Washington.

The US State Department had previously confirmed the death of an American in Sudan. Details of the identities of the dead were not initially disclosed.

Thousands of residents 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. According to a dpa reporter, only a few shops were open on the Thursday before the holidays and markets in the city were closed.

In Sudan, fighting broke out on Saturday between the country’s two most powerful generals and their units. Since a joint military coup in 2021, the two men have led the country in Northeast Africa with a population of about 46 million. De facto President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, also commander-in-chief of the army, is fighting with the army against his deputy Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, the leader of the powerful paramilitary group RSF. For years it has been said that power will be handed over to a civilian government. (sda/dpa)