On Friday, the Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority declared that the nation’s airspace will continue to be closed to most air traffic until 10 July. This decision comes in the aftermath of the breakdown of an Eid al-Adha truce due to an unexpected explosion on Thursday.
The airspace was initially shut down for regular traffic after violent military clashes commenced in mid-April between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Residents of Khartoum, the capital, reported that the second day of Eid al-Adha was marred by the revival of fighting amongst the rival forces. The discord was signalled by a dramatic explosion close to the army headquarters, sending clouds of smoke soaring into the city skyline.
The ceasefire agreements, which were separately announced by the opposing military leaders for the duration of the holiday, failed to prevent intermittent fighting.
The confrontation, which flared up on April 15, has resulted in a humanitarian crisis with millions of residents in the capital city Khartoum confined to their homes. They are having to ration basic resources such as electricity and water amidst the soaring summer temperatures.
The ongoing dispute between army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and his former deputy, Rapid Support Forces commander Mohamed Dagalo, has led to an estimated death toll of 2,800, as per the data provided by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. However, this figure is believed to be an underestimate, as many wounded people have not been able to reach medical facilities and a number of corpses remain unattended in the streets.
Moreover, the majority of the violence has been centred in both Khartoum and the western region of Darfur. The escalating conflict has led to over two million people being displaced within Sudan and across its borders.
Analysts have suggested that the fighting shows no signs of easing, as neither side appears willing to engage in negotiation until they have secured a clear military advantage.
Image Credit: Chetan Sharma on Unsplash
