Reports indicate drone attacks occurred near Sudan's capital, Khartoum, and the northern town of Atbara on Friday. This development follows an announcement by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Thursday that they had agreed to a humanitarian ceasefire.
Incident Details
Residents in Khartoum, an area controlled by the Sudanese army, reported hearing drones and explosions during the early hours of Friday. These blasts were observed near a military base and a power station. Further north, in the military-controlled town of Atbara, drones were also reported. A resident stated that anti-aircraft defenses engaged the drones, with fires and explosions subsequently observed in the city's eastern sector. The RSF has not issued a statement regarding these events.
Ceasefire Context
On Thursday, the RSF declared its acceptance of a humanitarian truce proposal put forth by the United States, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. This initiative, originally proposed in September, aimed to precede a permanent ceasefire and facilitate a transition to civilian governance. The Sudanese government had previously rejected what it termed "foreign interference" and resisted any attempts to equate it with what it described as a "racist terrorist militia."
Sudan's ambassador to South Africa, Osman Abufatima Adam Mohammed, indicated on Friday that an agreement to the plan was premature. He cited past experiences where the RSF reportedly utilized truces to reposition and advance against the government. The ambassador also voiced opposition to the UAE's involvement in the ceasefire discussions, reiterating the Sudanese government's unproven allegation that the UAE has supplied the RSF with weaponry and foreign combatants. UN experts have stated such accusations of military support are credible, although the UAE has consistently denied any involvement with the RSF.
Conflict Background and Current State
The civil conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese military, which commenced in April 2023, has resulted in an estimated 150,000 fatalities and displaced approximately 12 million individuals. A UN-backed global hunger monitor recently confirmed that famine conditions are escalating in conflict-affected regions. Prior ceasefire agreements between the two factions have not been sustained.
The RSF's agreement to the truce followed its capture of el-Fasher, a strategic city that had been under an 18-month blockade. This consolidation of control over el-Fasher and the broader Darfur region may enhance the RSF's negotiating position in future ceasefire discussions. Concurrently, the RSF is facing international scrutiny regarding widespread allegations of mass killings and sexual violence during the capture of el-Fasher, allegations which the RSF denies.