May 21, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – An Advisor to the Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has expressed the hope that the temporary humanitarian truce in Sudan will evolve into a permanent ceasefire.
The Sudanese army and the RSF signed a seven-day-long truce on Saturday, aimed at facilitating the provision of supplies to civilians and the withdrawal of RSF forces from hospitals.
“We hope that this truce will be extended and become a permanent ceasefire.” Hafez al-Zain, the strategic adviser to Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, told Al Jazeera TV on Sunday.
Al-Zain emphasized that the RSF would not abandon the positions they control and refuted allegations that the militia had stormed hospitals and homes in Khartoum, as well as engaged in looting.
However, complaints from local residents regarding looting and theft committed by RSF elements persist. The director of Altigani Elmahi Psychiatric Teaching Hospital in Omdurman issued a statement condemning the looting of hospital property and belongings, including money, medicines, computers, and the destruction of laboratory equipment.
Contrary to rumours circulating, the adviser to the RSF commander denied reports of Hemetti’s death or injury, asserting that he remains with his forces and leads the battles personally.
The RSF adviser also expressed a willingness to engage in discussions with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Head of the Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese army, either inside or outside Sudan.
Recently, al-Burhan relieved Hemetti from his position as deputy chairman of the collegial presidency and dissolved the RSF.
The Sudanese army leaders say that they want to try the leader of the paramilitary forces for rebellion.
Attacks and violence
The violence and fighting continued in various neighbourhoods of Khartoum on Sunday, just hours before the commencement of the seven-day ceasefire on Monday evening.
The Sudanese army conducted raids on Rapid Support sites in several neighbourhoods south and east of Khartoum, while artillery shelling targeted their positions in the south of Omdurman.
The army confirmed in a statement on Sunday evening that it had launched strikes against RSF positions in North and Central Bahri and South Khartoum.
The statement mentioned the destruction of numerous armed vehicles and trucks carrying ammunition but did not provide details about casualties.
Additionally, Salimi Ishaq, the Director of the Unit for Combating Violence against Women and Children, told Sudan Tribune that ten cases of conflict-related sexual assault, including violence, harassment, and rape, in the capital city of Khartoum.
For its part, the Trilateral Mechanism (IGAD, African Union and UNITAMS) welcomed the signing of the temporary ceasefire and urged both parties to abide by it, with the ceasefire scheduled to begin at 9:45 p.m. local time on May 22, 2023.
(ST)
