A 72-hour ceasefire reached in Sudan between the warring parties under the aegis of the United States is generally respected Tuesday in Khartoum, while foreign countries intensify their efforts to evacuate their nationals from the North African country – Is in chaos.
The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern about “very high” biological risks after the occupation “by belligerents” of a “public health laboratory” in the capital, where one could find pathogens of measles, cholera and poliomyelitis.
Ten days after the start of the fighting which left hundreds dead, explosions and gunfire were rare in Khartoum until midday. But as with every announcement of a temporary cessation of hostilities, the paramilitaries of General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo, and the army of rival General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, mutually accused each other of violating the truce.
On the other hand, it was impossible to know immediately if the violent fighting which had raged in the vast region of Darfur since the start of hostilities on April 15 had diminished in intensity.
More than 450 people have been killed and more than 4,000 others injured since mid-April in Sudan, according to the latest UN report, but “after intense negotiations”, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces ( FSR) “have agreed to a nationwide ceasefire,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said shortly before the truce came into effect at midnight (22:00 GMT Monday).
Permanent ceasefire?
The army and the paramilitaries have confirmed a “truce dedicated to the opening of humanitarian corridors”.
Taking advantage of this potential lull, up to 270,000 people could still flee to neighboring Chad and South Sudan, the UN refugee agency (HCR) warned on Tuesday.
Khaled Omar Youssef, of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FLC), the civilian bloc sacked by the putsch led in 2021 by the two then-allied generals, told AFP that he welcomed “American mediation” which established, with the civilians, “contacts with the army and the FSR” with a view to “this humanitarian truce”.
“It will allow a dialogue on the modalities of a definitive ceasefire,” he said.
Mr. Blinken said he was working with allies on a “commission” to negotiate a permanent cessation of hostilities in Sudan. The army spoke of “Saudi-American” mediation.
The intensity of the fighting in several districts of the capital had in fact decreased since the beginning of the evacuations of foreigners on Saturday.
In other areas, however, clashes have become more destructive in recent days. On videos posted online which could not be immediately authenticated by AFP, burnt shops, crushed buildings and haggard civilians in the middle of the still smoking rubble testify to the violence of air raids and artillery fire .
Dalia Mohammed fled Khartoum for Port Sudan on the east coast. “We found ourselves on the street, we became displaced because of something that has nothing to do with us: it only concerns two men and their over-armed troops”, she laments.
Those who cannot leave the capital, plunged into chaos, try to survive, deprived of water and electricity, subject to food shortages and internet and telephone blackouts.
The conflict risks “invading the entire region and beyond”, warned the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.
The Security Council is due to meet on Tuesday evening to discuss the conflict.
” Long trip “
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell welcomed the truce, urging “both parties to fully respect it”. In the meantime, the departures of foreigners continue.
On Tuesday, the United Kingdom announced that it was starting the evacuation of its nationals, three days after that of its diplomats.
More than 1,000 EU nationals were able to leave, France announcing on Tuesday that it had evacuated 538 people, including 209 French. Ukraine was able to get 138 people out of the country, including 87 of its nationals.
Tokyo said for its part that it had evacuated “all the Japanese who were in Khartoum” and wanted to leave.
Around 700 international staff from the UN, NGOs and embassies “have been evacuated to Port Sudan”, the UN said.
Dozens of other aid workers were evacuated to Chad from Darfur, the region most affected by the fighting with Khartoum.
“As foreigners who can flee, the impact of the violence on an already critical humanitarian situation is worsening,” warns the UN, whose agencies have suspended their activities.
Five aid workers have been killed and, according to the doctors’ union, nearly three-quarters of hospitals are out of service.