Opponents Battle in Sudan's Capital; Army Conducts Airstrikes

As the war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group 'Rapid Support Forces' enters its fifth week, Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, was subjected to airstrikes on Friday. According to Voice of America, both sides are not adhering to the agreed ceasefire, and local witnesses report that mass looting and daily violence by armed men have made life difficult for residents of Khartoum. The UN refugee agency also announced on Friday that the ongoing conflicts and the humanitarian crisis for civilians trapped in the city have so far displaced nearly one million people and caused about 250,000 others to flee to neighboring countries. Earlier peace talks, initiated by the United States and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, were seen as the first serious attempt to end the conflicts in Sudan, but now, after five weeks of civil war, there has been no progress in ceasefire negotiations, and the intensity of the fighting has escalated. On Friday, at an Arab League meeting, the Sudanese representative accused the 'Rapid Support Forces' of looting, sexual assault, and repeated violations of the ceasefire. Meanwhile, the 'Rapid Support Forces' accuse the army of starting the conflict and violating the ceasefire, claiming, 'Those who have committed crimes are wearing the stolen uniforms of the Rapid Support Forces.' The conflicts in Sudan escalated on April 15 following disputes over plans to integrate the 'RSF' into the army and over future command of these forces. These disputes threaten the international agreement aimed at transitioning Sudan towards democracy, which has been achieved after years of bitter experience with dictatorship in Sudan. This report uses information from Reuters. The UN has called for $3 billion in aid for 25 million people in Sudan. Ongoing ceasefire negotiations; Khartoum has been bombed again. Fighting continues in Sudan on the brink of new ceasefire talks in Jeddah. The UN Migration Agency reports that the number of displaced persons in Sudan has reached 700,000. Fighting continues in Sudan; mediators are seeking to establish a ceasefire. The warring factions in Sudan have begun peace negotiations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Intensive diplomatic cooperation between the US and Saudi Arabia to end the war in Sudan. Intense fighting around the capital of Sudan; ceasefire has been violated again. Looting of aid trucks in Sudan; the UN calls for 'safe passage' for aid shipments. The war in Sudan continues; refugees in Egypt face many difficulties.