Heavy fighting in Khartoum as power struggle rages
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[May 04, 2023]
By Khalid Abdelaziz
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Fierce fighting could be heard in central Khartoum
on Thursday as the army tried to push back the paramilitary Rapid
Support Forces (RSF) from areas around the presidential palace and army
headquarters, with a lasting ceasefire appearing elusive.
Each side appears to be battling for control of territory in the capital
ahead of any possible negotiations, though the leaders of both factions
have shown little public willingness to hold talks after more than two
weeks of fighting.
Heavy bombardments also rang out in the adjoining cities of Omdurman and
Bahri. Both sides had agreed to a seven-day ceasefire, which has been
violated.
"Since yesterday evening, and this morning, there are air strikes and
the sounds of clashes," said Al-Sadiq Ahmed, a 49-year-old engineer
speaking from Khartoum.
"We've got into a state of permanent terror because the battles are
around the centres of residential neighbourhoods. We don't know when
this nightmare and the fear will end."
The United Nations, meanwhile, pressed Sudan's warring factions on
Wednesday to guarantee safe passage of humanitarian aid after six trucks
were looted and air strikes in the capital undermined a supposed truce.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/May/04/images/ads/current/ldn_sda_KAREN_012823.png)
U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths said he hoped to have face-to-face
meetings with Sudan's warring parties within two to three days to secure
guarantees from them for aid convoys to deliver relief supplies.
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![](../images/050423PIX/news_a50.jpg)
A man walks while smoke rises above
buildings after aerial bombardment, during clashes between the
paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum North,
Sudan, May 1, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/May/04/images/ads/current/heartlandcollege_lda_050123.png)
The United Nations has warned that fighting between the army and RSF,
which erupted on April 15, risks causing a humanitarian catastrophe
that could spill into other countries. Sudan said on Tuesday that
550 people had died and 4,926 people wounded so far in the conflict.
About 100,000 people have fled Sudan with little food or water to
neighbouring countries, the U.N. says.
The army said it killed RSF fighters and destroyed a number of
vehicles "belonging to the rebels", after clashing with the group in
the Bahri military region.
The army and RSF joined forces in a coup two years ago and had
shared power as part of an internationally backed transition towards
free elections and civilian government before falling out over the
transition.
The RSF accused the army of breaching a ceasefire and attacking
forces since dawn. It said the army attacked its residential
neighbourhoods with artillery and aircraft in a "cowardly manner".
(Additional reporting by Tala Ramadan; Writing by Michael Georgy;
Editing by Gareth Jones, Gerry Doyle and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
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