KHARTOUM: The US and UK said its armed forces helped staff from both embassies escape Sudan. Although several other countries had problems evacuating on Sunday as military factions battled in Khartoum.
Eight days of army-RSF combat generated a humanitarian disaster, murdered 400 people, and imprisoned thousands of inhabitants in their homes.
As citizens left the chaos and foreign countries evacuated their nationals, Reuters reported gunshots and heavy smoke over the capital.
Both sides claimed they targeted a French convoy, wounded one Frenchman. France’s Foreign Ministry, which evacuated diplomats and civilians, did nothing.
The army accused the RSF of raiding a Qatari shipment to Port Sudan. Doha was silent.
Sudanese missionary shot in Egypt.
Moreover, President Joe Biden halted US diplomatic activity in Khartoum and demanded a ceasefire.
“The belligerent parties must implement an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and respect the will of the people of Sudan,” Biden said.
Pope Francis condemned violence during Sunday midday prayer in Rome.
While, Khartoum, Omdurman, Bahri, and other cities erupted in conflict on April 15, four years after Omar al-Bashir deposed in a popular uprising.
The army and RSF staged a coup in 2021 but split over plans to create a civilian government and combine the RSF into the military.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated the military expelled diplomats and their families.
On Saturday, US special troops flew MH-47 Chinook helicopters into Sudan’s war-torn capital to rescue less than 100 people.
“We did not take any small-arms fire on the way in and were able to get in and out without issue,” said Joint Staff operations director Lieutenant General Douglas Sims.
Ceasefire broken
Sudan’s fast collapse into war has shattered civilian authority, brought an impoverished country to the brink of humanitarian disaster, and threatened a wider conflict that might involve foreign powers.
From 2003, 300,000 people died and 2.7 million displaced in Darfur.
While, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s army and Hemedti’s RSF have violated almost daily ceasefires, including a three-day Eid al-Fitr truce that began Friday.
Hemedti briefly pictured in military gear in the passenger seat of a pick-up truck surrounded by cheering troops near Khartoum’s presidential palace for the first time since the crisis began.
The video’s buildings and roads matched satellite images, but Reuters couldn’t verify the date.
Burhan said Monday he was in the army headquarters in central Khartoum, 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) from the palace.
The army has used ground forces and air attacks to push back the RSF in Bahri and around the army’s HQ and airport, which has been closed, for two days.
The RSF claimed air strikes in Bahri’s Kafouri district “killed and injured” hundreds of fighters on Sunday.
Reuters saw RSF and army troops in Omdurman. Neighbourhoods were empty.
Reuters showed a Bahri market burning. Residents reported looting grain mills and industrial zones.
Moreover, Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO head, reported multiple deadly health institution attacks. “Paramedics, frontline nurses, and doctors are often unable to access the wounded and the injured cannot reach facilities,” he tweeted.
