Explosions have been heard near the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, a day after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said it would agree to a humanitarian ceasefire. Residents in Khartoum, which is controlled by the army, reported being woken overnight by the sounds of drones and explosions.
The blasts appeared to take place near a military base and a power station in the early hours of Friday morning. The RSF has not responded to these accounts, but Sudan's military-led government expressed skepticism about the truce, citing the RSF's history of violating ceasefires.
This ongoing civil war has resulted in at least 150,000 deaths and has forced 12 million people to flee their homes since it began in April 2023. A recent UN-backed global hunger monitor has confirmed that famine conditions are emerging in conflict zones.
On Friday, drone activity was reported not only in Khartoum but also 300km north in the military-controlled town of Atbara. An eyewitness described seeing anti-aircraft defenses engage the drones, leading to fires and additional explosions.
The RSF announced its agreement to a humanitarian truce proposed by a coalition of countries, including the US and Saudi Arabia, but skepticism remains regarding the group's commitment to follow through. The Sudanese government rejected the idea of foreign interference in peace negotiations, attributing the RSF's actions to a lack of respect for previous truces.
The humanitarian situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate, exacerbated by the violence and instability. As the RSF consolidates control in regions previously contested, including el-Fasher, its leverage during future ceasefire negotiations may increase, though it also faces mounting international scrutiny over allegations of human rights abuses.
