Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said it had agreed to a 72-hour truce on humanitarian grounds from 6am (0400 GMT) on Friday (21 April), to coincide with the Muslim holiday of Eid ul-Fitr.
The capital, Khartoum, was rocked by bombing and shelling earlier on Friday. There was no immediate comment from the army and its chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, did not mention a ceasefire in a pre-recorded speech posted on the army’s Facebook page.
“The truce coincides with the blessed Eid ul-Fitr … to open humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens and give them the opportunity to greet their families,” the RSF said in a statement.
Fighting between the RSF and Sudan’s army erupted on Saturday, derailing an internationally backed plan for a transition to a civilian democracy four years after the fall of Islamist autocrat Omar al-Bashir to mass protests and two years after a military coup.
The RSF said it had to act in “self-defence” to repel what it described as a coup attempt, adding that it is committed to a “complete ceasefire” during the armistice period.
At least 350 people have been killed in the power struggle between two previously allied leaders of the ruling military junta, army chief Burhan and RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The conflict has dashed hopes for progress towards democracy in Sudan, risks drawing in its neighbours and could play into the regional competition between Russia and the United States.
The RSF had earlier condemned the military for what it said were new assaults.
“At this moment, when citizens are preparing to receive the first day of Eid ul-Fitr, the neighbourhoods of Khartoum are waking up to the bombings of aircraft and heavy artillery in a sweeping attack that is directly targeting residential neighbourhoods,” the RSF said early on Friday.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday appealed for a ceasefire to allow civilians to reach safety.
Thousands of civilians streamed out of Khartoum as gunfire and explosions sounded on Thursday. Large numbers also crossed into Chad to flee fighting in the western region of Darfur.
A doctors’ group said at least 26 people were killed and 33 were injured in El-Obeid, a city west of Khartoum, on Thursday. Witnesses there described clashes between the army and RSF troops and widespread looting.
