At least 863 civilians killed in Sudan conflict
Ongoing clashes between the military and Rapid Support Forces in Sudan since mid-April have resulted in the tragic loss of lives for 863 civilians.
The conflict between the military and Rapid Support Forces continues to unfold in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan, and its surrounding towns.
The Sudanese Doctors Committee has been providing regular updates regarding the civilian casualties arising from these persistent clashes since mid-April.
According to the committee's reports, the clashes have claimed the lives of 863 civilians and left 3,531 individuals injured up to this point.
The United Nations has also reported that, as of May 14, the clashes have resulted in the deaths of 676 civilians, with over 5,575 people sustaining injuries.
During the morning hours, the Sudanese armed forces conducted multiple airstrikes on special forces bases in Khartoum, as revealed by Al-Hadath TV channel. The bombardment endured for a minimum of two hours, while sounds of explosions were heard near the cities of Omdurman and North Khartoum.
In an attempt to address the situation, delegations from the military and Rapid Support Forces reached an agreement on a humanitarian ceasefire in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the evening of May 20. The ceasefire was scheduled to take effect on the same evening.
It is noteworthy that this ceasefire agreement marks the second long-term agreement on a humanitarian ceasefire between the military and special forces since the clashes began. However, clashes unfortunately occurred just hours before the planned commencement of this agreement.
Since October 2021, Sudan has been without a functioning government following the military's dismissal of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's transitional government and the declaration of a state of emergency. This action was widely criticized by political forces as a "coup."
The transitional period in Sudan began in August 2019 after the removal of President Omar al-Bashir and was originally slated to conclude with elections in early 2024. (ILKHA)