Sudanese are anticipating further violence as multiple ceasefire violations occur in the crisis-stricken country

In the midst of Sudan’s ongoing devastating conflict, tensions remain high as opposing military forces continue to accuse each other of breaching the recently implemented ceasefire, now in its third week.

_{^{Sudan’s conflict has turned Khartoum, a city of 5 million people, into a battleground.(Photo: AP)}}

Fresh violations of a ceasefire by rival military forces have plunged crisis-hit Sudan into a third week of devastating conflict, as fighting could be heard in Khartoum on Monday.

The United Nations has warned of a humanitarian “breaking point” amid the violence that has killed hundreds and wounded thousands since a power struggle between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted on April 15.

Despite numerous ceasefire pledges, violence has continued to rock the capital Khartoum and the vast Western region of Darfur, risking reawakening a two-decade-old conflict.

The army and RSF, which overthrew a civilian government in a 2021 coup, are now locked in a power struggle that has derailed an internationally backed transition to democracy and is threatening to destabilize the fragile region.

Both sides have extended the formal ceasefire agreement, but the army believes the “rebels” had intended to keep up attacks. The health ministry has reported 528 deaths and 4,599 wounded, but the United Nations believes the real toll is much higher.

Sudan’s ongoing conflict has caused fear for many citizens as the country faces civil war, economic hardship and political instability. The violence has derailed an internationally-backed transition towards a democratic government and driven tens of thousands of people to flee to neighbouring countries.

The conflict has also deepened the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where a third of the people were already dependent on some form of humanitarian assistance before the fighting started. The situation has forced people to risk their lives to work, as everything has become more expensive and many struggle to provide for their families.

Army leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF chief General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo are the two most powerful men in the country and refuse to talk to each other until the other side ceases hostilities.

The conflict has caused the better-equipped army to use air strikes from drones and fighter jets to target the more agile RSF forces that have fanned out across the city of Khartoum.

The fighting has prompted warnings that the country could disintegrate, destabilizing the region and causing foreign governments to scramble to evacuate their nationals.

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Toshika Chauhan