Sudan’s RSF announces 72-hour ceasefire amid Khartoum fighting | Conflict News

World leaders have been calling on Sudan’s warring factions to observe a ceasefire for Eid al-Fitr which starts on Friday.

Sudan’s paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has announced it will shortly begin a ceasefire despite continued heavy fighting with the army in the capital Khartoum.

The RSF said in a statement it would observe a 72-hour ceasefire, which would come into effect at 6am (04:00 GMT) on Friday, which marks the beginning of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

“The armistice coincides with the blessed Eid al-Fitr, and to open humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens and give them the opportunity to greet their families,” the statement said.

Khartoum was rocked by heavy shelling in the early hours of Friday, with the RSF accusing the army of staging a “sweeping attack” on the capital.

There was no word from the army on whether it too would impose a ceasefire.

There have been a series of failed ceasefires since the violent power struggle broke out last weekend between the army under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF, which is led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Thousands of civilians have fled Khartoum and large numbers of people have also crossed into Chad to flee fighting in the western region of Darfur.

Al-Burhan and Dagalo were previously in an alliance as leaders of Sudan’s ruling military government.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was among prominent international leaders who recently called for the warring factions to observe a three-day truce over Eid and allow civilians to reach safety.

At least 350 people have been killed in the fighting so far.