Sudanese civil war (2023–present)

Sudanese civil war (2023–present)
Part of the Sudanese transition to democracy
Military situation as of 17 October 2024   Controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces   Controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (For a more detailed map of the current military situation, see here)
Date 15 April 2023 – present (2023-04-15 – present) (1 year, 6 months and 2 days) Location Khartoum and other strategic cities in Sudan Status Ongoing Disputed control of key government sites Territorial changes Rapid Support Forces occupy parts of the capital Khartoum and Darfur region, including Khartoum International Airport, Nyala, Kabkabiya, and Geneina
Belligerents
Rapid Support Forces Supported by: Libyan National Army Russia Ethiopia (alleged)	Sudanese Armed Forces Egypt
Commanders and leaders
Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo	Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
Strength
70,000–150,000	110,000–120,000
Casualties and losses
At least 413 killed and 3,551 wounded

The 2023 Sudan conflict is an ongoing armed conflict between rival factions of the military government of Sudan. It began on 15 April 2023, when clashes broke out across the country, mainly in the capital city of Khartoum and the Darfur region. As of 21 April, at least 413 people have been killed and more than 3,500 injured.

The fighting began with attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on key government sites. Airstrikes, artillery and heavy gunfire were reported across Sudan including in Khartoum. As of 15 April 2023, both RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and Sudan's de facto leader and army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan claimed control of several key government sites, including the general military headquarters, the Presidential Palace, Khartoum International Airport, Burhan's official residence and the SNBC headquarters.

Background

Main article: History of Sudan

The history of conflicts in Sudan has consisted of ethnic tensions, religious disputes, and competition over resources. In its modern history, two civil wars between the central government and the southern regions killed 1.5 million people, and a continuing conflict in the western region of Darfur has displaced two million people and killed more than 200,000 people. Since independence in 1956, Sudan has had more than fifteen military coups and has been ruled by the military for the majority of the republic's existence, with only brief periods of democratic civilian parliamentary rule.

Political context

Main article: 2019–2026 Sudanese transition to democracy

Former president and military strongman Omar al-Bashir presided over a war in the west of the country and oversaw state-sponsored violence in the region of Darfur, leading to charges of war crimes and genocide. Key figures in the Darfur conflict included Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo, the commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) at the time of the 2023 clashes. In 2019, a coup d'état ousted al-Bashir in the context of massive civil disobedience that was often described as the first stage of the Sudanese Revolution. An interim joint civilian-military unity government headed by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was established. However, in October 2021, the military seized power in a coup which was led by Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Dagalo. Al-Burhan became the effective leader of the subsequent junta, monopolizing power.

The junta later agreed to hand over authority to a civilian-led government, with a formal agreement scheduled to be signed on 6 April 2023. However, it was delayed due to tensions between generals Burhan and Dagalo, who serve as chairman and deputy chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, respectively. Chief among their political disputes is the integration of the RSF into the military. One issue of contention is the RSF's insistence on a ten-year timetable for its integration into the regular army, while the latter demands it be done in two years. Other contested issues included the status given to RSF officers in the future hierarchy, and whether RSF forces should be under the command of the army chief – rather than Sudan's commander-in-chief – who is currently Burhan. They have also clashed over authority over sectors of Sudan’s economy that are controlled by the two factions. As a sign of their rift, Dagalo expressed regret over the October 2021 coup.

Rapid Support Forces

The RSF is a paramilitary organization with roots in Janjaweed militias that operated during the Darfur War. It was formally created by President Bashir in 2013 and was led by Dagalo. They gained notoriety for their crackdown on pro-democracy protestors during the Khartoum massacre in June 2019. The Bashir regime allowed several armed groups, including the RSF, to proliferate to prevent threats to its security from within the armed forces, a practice known as "coup-proofing". Both the RSF and the army have benefitted from security training and arms shipments from Russia in exchange for gold. The RSF and Dagalo's consolidation of power went hand in hand with a rapid accumulation of wealth, with the paramilitary chief seizing key gold mining locations in Darfur, intervening as part of the Saudi-led coalition forces during the Yemeni Civil War, and colluding with the Russian private military outfit Wagner Group. This led to RSF forces growing rapidly into the tens of thousands, including thousands of armed pickup trucks, which regularly patrolled the streets of Khartoum. Sudan has consistently denied the presence of Wagner on its territory.

Initial maneuvers

On 11 April 2023, RSF forces deployed near the city of Merowe and in Khartoum. Government forces ordered them to leave, but they refused, leading to clashes when RSF forces took control of the Soba military base south of Khartoum. The RSF began their mobilization on 13 April 2023, raising fears of a rebellion against the junta. The SAF said the mobilization was illegal.

Timeline

15 April 2023

Khartoum

See also: Battle of Khartoum (2023)

On 15 April 2023, the RSF launched a surprise attack on multiple Sudanese Army bases across the country, including in the capital Khartoum. At 12:00 (Central Africa Time), RSF forces claimed to have captured Khartoum International Airport, Merowe Airport, El Obeid Airport as well as a base in Soba. Clashes between RSF and the Army erupted at the Presidential Palace and at the residence of General al-Burhan, with both sides claiming control over the two sites.

In response, the Sudanese army announced the closure of all airports in the country. and the Sudanese Air Force conducted airstrikes on RSF positions in Khartoum with artillery fire being heard in different parts of the city. Colonel Khaled Abdullah of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) claimed that 80 RSF-operated vehicles were destroyed and that the RSF's threats within Khartoum had been decreased.

Elsewhere in Khartoum clashes were reported at the headquarters of the state broadcaster Sudan TV. The channel halted a news bulletin after the presenter began reading an item about the situation in Khartoum and switched the programming to music. Eyewitnesses and Al Arabiya later reported that the TV station was captured by RSF forces. Bridges and roads in Khartoum were closed and checkpoints set up. The RSF claimed that all roads heading south of Khartoum have been closed.

At Khartoum International Airport, multiple aircraft belonging to Saudia, Badr Airlines, and SkyUp Airlines among others were reported to be damaged according to Flightradar24. Saudia later confirmed that one of its aircraft, an Airbus, came under fire before take-off at the airport and that it had evacuated all passengers, crew and staff to the Saudi embassy. It, along with EgyptAir and Qatar Airways also suspended all flights to and from Sudan.

Darfur

Clashes also erupted in the capital of North Darfur state, Al-Fashir, while Nyala Airport in South Darfur was shelled. In Al-Fashir, heavy clashes were ongoing using light and heavy weapons with RSF forces trying to capture the airport and other buildings. RSF forces claimed to have captured the airport, and the Signal Corps and Medical Corps headquarters in Al-Fashir. Clashes also erupted in Zalingei in Central Darfur.

Elsewhere

Later in the day, the SAF claimed that RSF forces in White Nile, Gedaref, Kassala, Nyala, Port Sudan, Kadugli, Damazin and Kosti had surrendered, and that the RSF camps of Taiba and Soba have been destroyed.

16 April 2023

SAF

The Khartoum State Security Committee declared a public holiday in the city "in order to preserve lives of citizens and their property". At around 13:30 (CAT), the SAF announced the rescue of a major general and a brigadier, the arrests of multiple RSF officers at Merowe Airport and the taking of the airport itself, while also claiming that multiple RSF leaders had deserted or surrendered to the SAF. SAF officials also claimed that RSF members had fled Merowe Airport with Egyptian soldiers being taken as prisoners.

The Sudan Civil Aviation Authority announced the closure of the country's airspace as well as that of parts of South Sudan that it also manages due to ‘security reasons.’ Telecommunications provider MTN shut down internet services across the country after orders from the Sudanese telecommunications regulator were given. Sudan TV also completely halted its broadcasts, and a local news website reported that clashes had taken place within the headquarters of the station and that its control room "was bombed". Reuters cited staff as saying that the authorities had cut transmissions in order to prevent broadcasting by RSF forces. Attacks were also reported at facilities of Sudan Railways.

The Chadian Army stopped and disarmed a contingent of 320 Sudanese soldiers who entered the country from Darfur while fleeing the RSF.

RSF

An RSF advisor said that they tactically withdrew from the Karari camp in Omdurman while also claiming that 90% of Khartoum is under RSF control. Sources from Al Jazeera indicated that at around 18:00 (CAT), RSF forces took control over the Blue Nile TV network. In Nyala, the RSF claimed control of the SAF's 16th Infantry Division at around 18:30 (CAT), according to residents RSF forces captured the city's airport after capturing a military base in the previous day.

17 April 2023

Heavy clashes resumed in Khartoum with heavy artillery being heard from the northern and southern parts of the capital and fighting going on in front of the gates of the army headquarters. Fighting was also ongoing in Omdurman, with use of fighter jets by the military and anti-aircraft missiles by the RSF. Fighting also took place west of Merowe airport.

A US diplomatic convoy was fired upon in Darfur but managed to escape unharmed. Preliminary reports linked the assailants to the RSF.

SAF

The SAF claimed control of the headquarters of Sudan TV and state radio in Khartoum, and Sudan TV resumed its broadcasting with pro-army songs and anthems. However, the RSF released a video on their Twitter page, purportedly filmed in front of Sudan TV compound’s gates, and disputed its control.

RSF

At 10:00 (CAT), the RSF claimed to be in full control of Merowe Airport.

18 April 2023

As a ceasefire was announced to begin later in the day, heavy fighting continued in Khartoum with fighter jets flying across the capital, launching attacks against what appeared to be RSF targets. The RSF used anti-aircraft defense systems and heavy artillery to repel the attacks. Reporters said that armed personnel had entered several hospitals in Khartoum. Medical facilities have also reported a shortage of medical personnel, electricity and water. Al Jazeera reported that confrontations appear to have stopped in south Khartoum, but fighting was ongoing in the center of the capital near the presidential palace and Army headquarters. The RSF was reported to have looted some residential areas of the capital, with residents of the Khartoum 2 area telling the BBC that the RSF had been going house-to-house demanding water and food. After the ceasefire came into effect at 6:00 pm local time, gunfire and shelling continued to be heard in Khartoum. Two rockets struck the Yunus Emre Institute in Khartoum, without causing any casualty.

At Merowe, eyewitnesses reported seeing an RSF column heading away from the perimeter of its airport to al-Multaqa, 100 km (62 miles) to the south, following air strikes by the military the previous day.

19 April 2023

Battles continued in Khartoum near the army headquarters, the presidential palace, and the airport, with heavy weaponry being used. The Sudanese army said that it was attacked by the RSF at its general command headquarters but had repelled the attack, inflicting “heavy losses” on the RSF, who were reported to have abandoned 24 land cruisers, and calling on them to surrender, promising pardons to members who would do so. It also admitted that the RSF managed to seize a number of government buildings such as the Ministry of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of the Interior and the Civil Registry Department. Observers determined that the army was controlling access to Khartoum and trying to cut off supply routes to RSF fighters. Witnesses said Army reinforcements were brought in from near the eastern border with Ethiopia.

The Sudanese army accused the RSF of assaulting civilians in Khartoum and other parts of the country, carrying out acts of looting and burning at a market in Khartoum Bahri and going on a rampage, looting and assaulting people in Merowe.

As another ceasefire was announced to begin at 6:00 PM local time, fighting was reported to have mostly subsided around Khartoum Airport, but continued to be intense around the Presidential Palace, Army Headquarters and in the Jabra neighborhood of west Khartoum, where homes belonging to RSF leader Dagalo and his family were located. Fighting was reported to have continued several minutes into the start of the ceasefire. Dagalo was reportedly seen commanding operations from the Hai al-Matar neighborhood, close to the military headquarters. The RSF accused the army of using heavy artillery against homes in Jabra, breaching international law. A huge fire broke out in the Khartoum 2 area after an attack at a weapons' store.

In Merowe, an Al Jazeera correspondent said that the army had regained full control over the airport, which had been totally destroyed in the fighting, and that the situation was returning to normal although the presence of military vehicles was still noted. However, the RSF claimed it still maintains a presence in the city.

20 April 2023

The RSF said that it repelled an SAF attack on its positions in Omdurman in the morning despite the ongoing ceasefire, shooting down two helicopters in the process. RSF forces approaching Khartoum were blocked by SAF air and land forces. Al Jazeera reported that clashes continued near the army headquarters and the presidential palace. Explosions were also reported in El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state.

21 April 2023

The day marked Eid al-Fitr with calls for a ceasefire to allow for celebrations. Despite the SAF’s Burhan calling for unity and the RSF's Dagalo saying it would abide by a ceasefire,, to which the army later agreed, fighting continued for the seventh day. Heavy shelling and gunfire was reported in Khartoum, Khartoum Bahri and Omdurman as the RSF accused the army of staging a “sweeping attack." The army replied that it was "combing" the streets of Khartoum for the RSF, using soldiers on foot. Fighting was described as particularly intense along the highway going to Port Sudan and in the industrial zone of al-Bagair. Fighting was also reported in El-Obeid.

Casualties

As of 21 April, at least 413 people have been killed and 3,551 have been wounded in the unrest, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The Sudan Doctors Union put the death toll at at least 175 civilians and more than 1041 others injured since 15 April. Their tally included at least 30 people who were killed since a ceasefire was supposed to take effect on 18 April. The United Nations Children's Fund said that at least nine children were killed and 50 others injured in the fighting. Doctors on the ground warned that stated figures do not include all casualties as many people could not reach hospitals due to difficulties in movement. A spokesperson for the Sudanese Red Crescent was also quoted as saying that the number of casualties "was not small".

By location

During initial clashes in El-Obeid and Khartoum at least three civilians were killed and dozens injured. A statement by the Sudan Doctors' Committee said two civilians were killed at Khartoum airport and another man was shot to death in the state of North Kordofan. Those killed at the airport were believed to be on board a passenger plane that was hit by a shell. Twenty-five people, including 17 civilians, were reported to have died in Khartoum. Many bodies were seen lying on the streets in the city center but could not be retrieved given the intensity of the fighting. The streets around the defence ministry and airport were reported to be littered with bodies. A student was shot and killed at the University of Khartoum. A 6-year-old child died after the RSF shelled a hospital while an ambulance driver was reported to be among those injured.

At least twenty five civilians were killed and 26 injured during clashes in North Darfur, and an additional three civilians were killed by a rocket-propelled grenade, with a woman also being injured by a bullet. A representative of Médecins Sans Frontières said at least 279 wounded people were admitted to the only functioning hospital in the state capital al-Fashir, of whom 44 died. In Foro Baranga in West Darfur, tens were reportedly killed and hundreds injured. In Nyala, in South Darfur, 8 civilians were killed during the ongoing clashes.

Foreign casualties

An Indian national working in Khartoum died after being hit by a stray bullet on 15 April. The US State Department confirmed on 21 April that an American citizen was also killed. A two-year old girl from Turkey was killed while her parents were injured after their house was struck by a rocket on 18 April. Two Greek nationals who were trapped in a church on 15 April were wounded in a crossfire when they tried to leave. A Filipino migrant worker and an Indonesian national were injured by stray bullets. On 17 April, the European Union Ambassador to Sudan, Aidan O'Hara of Ireland, was assaulted by unidentified "armed men wearing military fatigues" in his home and suffered minor injuries but was able to resume working on 19 April.

Casualties among Humanitarian workers

In Kabkabiya, three employees for the World Food Programme (WFP) were killed after being caught in the crossfire at a military base. Two other staff members were seriously injured. On 18 April, the EU's top humanitarian aid officer in Sudan, Wim Fransen of Belgium, was shot in Khartoum and suffered serious injuries. On 21 April, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that one of its local employees was killed during a crossfire while travelling with his family near El-Obeid.

Foreign involvement

RSF

On 18 April, a SAF general claimed that two unnamed neighboring countries were trying to provide aid to the RSF. According to The Wall Street Journal, Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar, who is backed by the United Arab Emirates and the Russian paramilitary Wagner Group dispatched at least one plane to fly military supplies to the RSF. The UAE and the Wagner Group are also involved in business deals with the RSF. According to CNN, Wagner has supplied surface-to-air missiles to the RSF, picking up the items from Syria and delivering some of them by plane to Haftar-controlled bases in Libya to be then delivered to the RSF, while dropping other items directly to RSF positions in northwestern Sudan. The head of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, denied supporting the RSF, saying that the company has not had a presence in Sudan for more than two years. The Libyan National Army, which is commanded by Haftar, also denied providing support to any warring groups in Sudan and said it was ready to play a mediating role.

Ethiopia

See also: 2020–2023 Ethiopian–Sudanese clashes

On 19 April, the SAF claimed to have repelled an invasion by the Ethiopian Armed Forces in the disputed Al Fushqa district claimed by both countries. The SAF said that the Ethiopian army had carried out an attack with tanks, armored vehicles, and infantry and that it had inflicted heavy losses on Ethiopian personnel and equipment. The SAF also said that it was monitoring "unusual activity among the Ethiopian forces" since the start of hostilities with the RSF and that Ethiopian forces were carrying out intensive reconnaissance and surveillance operations along the border. However, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed denied that any clashes had taken place.

Egypt

On 16 April, the RSF claimed that its troops in Port Sudan had been attacked by foreign aircraft and issued a warning against any foreign interference. According to former CIA analyst Cameron Hudson, Egyptian fighter jets are a part of these bombing campaigns against RSF, and Egyptian special forces units have been deployed and are providing intelligence and tactical support to the SAF. The Wall Street Journal said that Egypt sent fighter jets and pilots to support the Sudanese military.

On 17 April, satellite imagery obtained by The War Zone revealed that one Egyptian Air Force MiG-29M2 fighter jet had been destroyed and two others had been heavily damaged or destroyed at Merowe Airbase. A Sudanese Air Force Guizhou JL-9 was also among the destroyed aircraft.

Egyptian POWs

On 15 April, RSF forces claimed, via Twitter, to have taken several Egyptian troops prisoner near Merowe, as well as a military plane carrying markings of the Egyptian Air Force. Initially, no official explanation was given for the Egyptian soldiers' presence, although Egypt and Sudan have had extensive military cooperation due to diplomatic tensions with Ethiopia. Later on, the Egyptian Armed Forces stated that around 200 of its soldiers were in Sudan to conduct exercises with the Sudanese military. Around that time, the army reportedly encircled RSF forces in Merowe airbase. As a result, the Egyptian Armed Forces announced that it was following the situation as a precaution for the safety of their personnel. The RSF later stated that it would cooperate in repatriating the soldiers to Egypt. On 19 April, the RSF stated that it had moved the soldiers to Khartoum and would hand them over when the "appropriate opportunity" arose. 177 of the captured Egyptian troops were released and flown back to Egypt aboard three Egyptian military transport planes that took off from Khartoum airport later in the day. The remaining 27 soldiers, who were from the Egyptian Air Force, were sheltered at the Egyptian embassy to be evacuated once the situation improves.

Humanitarian crisis

The humanitarian crisis following the fighting was further exacerbated by the violence occurring during a season of high temperatures and the fasting month of Ramadan. Most residents were unable to venture outside of their homes to gather food and supplies due to fears of getting caught in the crossfire. A doctors’ group said that hospitals remained understaffed and were running low on supplies as wounded people streamed in.

Refugees

Thousands of residents fled Khartoum by foot or by vehicle for safer parts of the country. However, many of them faced difficulties such as the presence of roadblocks and robberies along the roads. Chad said that it was receiving and sheltering thousands of refugees who had crossed across its border. The UN Refugee Agency later estimated that between 10,000 and 20,000 people had fled to Chad, citing figures from its teams at the border.

Khartoum

The fighting in Khartoum left many of its five million residents stranded in their homes without electricity or water for more than 48 hours. On 17 April, the Sudan Medical Association said that bombs struck al-Shaab Hospital and al-Khartoum Hospital, forcing both hospitals to stop the services of their emergency departments. The Sudan Doctors’ Union said that 52 hospitals went out of service in the capital and adjacent areas, equating to about 70% of hospitals in the region. Nine hospitals were bombed, and 19 were subject to forced evacuation, while five ambulances had been attacked by military forces. The union later told the BBC that only five hospitals were functioning in Khartoum, all of which were facing exhausted staff and major shortages of oxygen and life-saving drugs. Other hospitals were taken over by the warring parties either to shelter their fighters or for other military purposes. One hospital was emptied out and reportedly taken over by the RSF. The association described the attacks as a clear violation of international humanitarian law and called on the international community to help. The World Health Organization (WHO) also noted that the warring sides have seized ambulances. The vice president of the Sudan Doctors’ Trade Union told Al Jazeera that doctors and other healthcare personnel were finding it very difficult to reach hospitals because the major bridges on the Nile were blockaded.

Residents were asked to limit their electricity usage as the state’s distribution authority said the servers that manage online purchases of power were out of service and engineers could not reach them because it was too dangerous. Two water plants were reportedly damaged in the fighting, forcing residents to collect water directly from the Nile River instead. A grassroots movement using the hashtag #NoToWar offered people food, medication and information about safety routes to escape the city.

On 19 April, the Rapid Support Forces announced that it had set up a call center in areas it controlled in Khartoum to receive distress calls from residents.

Darfur

The governor of North Darfur also called the humanitarian situation in the region dire. The Project Coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in the state's capital El-Fasher said in a statement that the only remaining hospital in North Darfur was “rapidly running out of medical supplies to treat survivors” while other hospitals have had to close due to their proximity to the fighting or the inability of staff to get to the facilities because of the violence. MSF also said that its compound in Nyala, South Darfur, had been raided by armed men who “stole everything including vehicles and office equipment.” Save the Children said that the charity’s compound in Darfur was looted by armed men, saying staff were not hurt but medical supplies were taken, as well as food and laptops. Islamic Relief’s office in Central Darfur was looted by armed men, and several cars were also stolen. The World Food Programme reported the deaths of three of its employees and the looting of its facilities and vehicles during clashes at Kabkabiya, North Darfur. United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said that they were “receiving reports of attacks and sexual violence against aid workers”, adding that the UN aid office in South Darfur was also looted on 17 April.

Effects on relief organizations

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it is nearly impossible to provide humanitarian services around Khartoum, and warned that Sudan's health system is at risk of collapse. The World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed that one of its aircraft had been damaged at Khartoum International Airport during an exchange of gunfire on 15 April, which it says impacted its ability to move staff and provide assistance to people across the country.

An internal UN document seen by CNN stated that armed personnel, reportedly from the RSF, stormed the homes of people working for the UN and other international organizations in downtown Khartoum, sexually assaulting women and stealing belongings including cars. One incident of rape was also reported. Two Nigerian men working for an international organization were abducted and later released; a building housing the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs was targeted; and a rocket-propelled grenade hit the home of a local UN staff member in Khartoum. The RSF denied the claims, blaming the Sudanese military for committing the crimes while wearing RSF uniforms. In turn, the army denied involvement and blamed the RSF. The United Nations said that the fighting had “totally shut down” its work in Sudan and affected one-third of the country’s population.

Due to attacks against their staff and facilities, both Save the Children and the WFP suspended their operations in Sudan.

Ceasefire efforts

On 16 April, representatives from the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF agreed to a proposal by the United Nations to pause fighting between 16:00 and 19:00 local time (CAT). The Sudanese army announced that it approved a UN proposal to open a safe passage for urgent humanitarian cases for three hours every day starting from 16:00 local time, and stated that it reserved the right to react if the RSF "commit[ted] any violations". However, gunfire and explosives continued to be heard during the ceasefire, drawing condemnation from Special Representative Volker Perthes.

On 17 April, the governments of Kenya, South Sudan, and Djibouti expressed their willingness to send over their presidents to Sudan to act as mediators. However, Khartoum Airport was closed due to fighting, making arrival by air difficult.

On 18 April, RSF commander Dagalo said the paramilitary force has agreed to a day-long armistice to allow the safe passage of civilians, including those wounded. In a tweet, he said that the decision was reached following a conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken “and outreach by other friendly nations”. The Sudanese army initially said it was unaware of any coordination with mediators or the international community regarding a truce and claimed the RSF was planning to use this time to cover up for a “crushing defeat”. An army general later confirmed that the Army had agreed to a 24-hour ceasefire which will start at 6 PM local time (16:00 UTC). However, after the ceasefire came into effect, gunfire and shelling continued to be heard in the center of Khartoum. The Army and the RSF issued statements accusing each other of failing to respect the ceasefire. The army’s high command said it would continue operations to secure the capital and other regions.

On 19 April, both the Army and the RSF said they had agreed to another 24-hour ceasefire starting at 6 PM local time (16:00 GMT). However, heavy fighting continued between the two sides after the ceasefire was supposed to begin.

On 21 April, the RSF said it would observe a 72-hour ceasefire which would come into effect at 6 AM (04:00 GMT) that day, which marks the beginning of the Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr. There was no immediate word from the army on whether it would follow suit. Nevertheless, fighting continued on that day. In the afternoon local time, the army agreed to a three-day ceasefire to celebrate the Eid holiday starting that day.

Disinformation

On 14 April, the official SAF page published a video it said was of operations carried out by the Sudanese Air Force against the RSF. Al Jazeera’s monitoring and verification unit claimed the video was fabricated using footage from the video game Arma 3 that was published on TikTok in March 2023. The unit also claimed the video showing Sudanese army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan inspecting the Armoured Corps was from before the fighting. A video reportedly of Sudanese helicopters flying over Khartoum to participate in operations by the SAF against the RSF, also circulated on social media, turned out to be from November 2022.

Two photos widely circulated on social media that depicted a burning bridge reported as Bahri bridge and a bombed building to be in Khartoum, were all revealed to be from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Reactions

Domestic

Military

Rapid Support Forces (RSF): In an interview with Al Jazeera, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the Rapid Support Forces, accused Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of forcing the RSF to begin confrontations and accused SAF commanders of scheming to bring deposed leader Omar al-Bashir back to power. On Twitter, Dagalo called for the international community to intervene against Burhan, claiming that the RSF was fighting against radical militants.

Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): the Sudanese Army accused the RSF of seditious conspiracy against the state and said the RSF would be dissolved without discussion. It labeled Dagalo a criminal and issued a wanted notice for him. The Army stated it would conduct sweeps for Rapid Support Forces and urged civilians to stay inside. The Sudanese Armed Forces' media representative told Al Jazeera that retired veterans have joined the SAF's fight against the RSF.

Al-Burhan was quoted as saying that he was "shocked that [the Rapid Support Forces] attacked [my] house at nine in the morning", while also stating that the Presidential Palace and other government facilities are under SAF control.

Civilian

Former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok publicly appealed to both al-Burhan and Dagalo to cease fighting.

On 18 April, el-Wasig el-Bereir of the National Umma Party was in communication with the SAF and RSF to get them to stop fighting immediately.

On 18 April, el-Fateh Hussein of the Khartoum resistance committees called for the fighting to stop immediately, stating that the resistance committees had long called for the SAF to "return to their barracks" and for the RSF to be dissolved.

International

On 19 April, diplomatic missions in Sudan, which included those of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, issued a joint statement calling for fighting parties to observe their obligations under international law, specifically urging them to “protect civilians, diplomats and humanitarian actors,” avoid further escalations and initiate talks to “resolve outstanding issues.”

Countries

• Algeria called for "joint and urgent action to avoid further escalation and put an end to the fighting".
• Canada stated that, due to the ongoing security situation, the country's embassy in Khartoum will be closed until further notice. It also updated Sudan's travel advice to Level 4: Avoid all travel.
• Chad closed its land border with Sudan. Defence Minister Daoud Yaya Brahim expressed concern that the interception of Sudanese soldiers within Chadian territory on 17 April could spill-over into Darfur.
• China called on both sides to end the fighting as soon as possible.
• Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, both of whom lead two of Sudan's neighboring countries, offered to mediate between the warring sides. Egypt also closed its border with Sudan.
• Ethiopia and Kenya both urged restraint in light of the situation. Kenya had also announced they would evacuate their citizens, but the fighting in Sudan has delayed those plans.
• Germany has halted a mission to evacuate around 150 citizens from Sudan because of the fighting in Khartoum. Der Spiegel reported that the German Air Force had dispatched three A400M transport planes for the mission on 19 April. The planes had first landed in Greece for refueling and were later expected to fly to Khartoum to evacuate German nationals when it was aborted by the Bundeswehr because of renewed clashes and airstrikes. On 21 April, the Federal Ministry of Defence said that it was preparing again to rescue its citizens from Sudan.
• Japan's government announced on 19 April that it was preparing to evacuate its approximately 60 citizens from Sudan, becoming the first foreign nation to pull citizens from the country. A JSDF plane was placed on standby for that occasion.
• Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that 29 Malaysians in Sudan, including Petronas employees working at its Sudan complex, were safe. The ministry also condemned the violence and called for meaningful dialogue between all parties involved in the conflict. Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir revealed that the ministry had activated a "Sudan Operation" and a special team to ensure their safety and welfare. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stressed that the Malaysian government was monitoring the situation and would bring Malaysians stranded in Sudan straight home if their safety is at risk.
• Norway has advised its citizens to avoid any travel to Sudan.
• Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it was closely monitoring the security situation in Sudan and contacting the thousand-member Pakistani population in Khartoum to ensure their safety.
• Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud made two phone calls on 16 April with Generals Burhan and Dagalo calling for an end to the violence and the resumption of the transition to a civilian-led government in Sudan.
• South Korea said it will send a military aircraft carrying soldiers and medical staff to evacuate its 25 nationals in Sudan.
• Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said that military aircraft were on standby to evacuate some 60 Spanish citizens and about 20 other foreign nationals from Khartoum.
• Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the government will evacuate its embassy staff and their families from Sudan as soon as an available situation appears.
• Tanzania said it was planning to evacuate its 210 citizens from Sudan. Foreign Minister Stergomena Tax told parliament that the government was communicating with the Tanzanian embassy in Khartoum for updates and coordinating with neighboring countries and bodies such as the African Union and the United Nations.
• Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held separate phone calls with Generals Burhan and Dagalo calling on both sides to end the conflict and return to negotiations.
• United Kingdom Foreign Secretary James Cleverly cut short a visit to New Zealand and cancelled a succeeding trip to Samoa to focus on monitoring the situation in Sudan.
• United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for de-escalation and peace talks, and confirmed US personnel in the Khartoum embassy were all accounted for. He reiterated demands for a ceasefire in separate phone calls with Generals Burhan and Dagalo and called an attack on a US diplomatic convoy in Darfur on 17 April as "reckless, irresponsible and unsafe". Despite the violence, both the White House and the State Department said there were currently no plans to evacuate US personnel but urged all Americans to treat the situation "with the utmost seriousness". President Joe Biden ordered an additional deployment of troops to its base in Djibouti in case of an eventual evacuation from Sudan.

Organizations

• The African Union called for a political solution to the crisis. The body's Peace and Security council said that it "strongly rejects any external interference that could complicate the situation in Sudan" after an emergency meeting. It also announced that the head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, was planning to "immediately" go on a ceasefire mission to Sudan.
• The Arab League called for an immediate end to the violence in Sudan and offered to mediate between the country's warring sides in a statement issued following an emergency meeting in Cairo.
• The European Union's Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell confirmed EU staff were all accounted for and called for an immediate end to the violence. He also called the attack on its Ambassador Aidan O'Hara in Khartoum a gross violation of the Vienna Convention. EU spokeswoman Nabila Massrali told AFP news agency the EU delegation had not been evacuated from Khartoum following the attack.
• The Intergovernmental Authority on Development, an East African trading bloc, held an emergency meeting on the situation in Sudan and said it plans to send Kenyan President William Ruto, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh to Khartoum as soon as possible to reconcile the conflicting groups.
• United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate cessation of all hostilities. He also condemned the killing of several World Food Programme employees in Sudan, calling the deaths "appalling".