Clashes between Sudanese Army, RSF renew in Khartoum

Clashes between Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensified on Saturday following artillery shelling on several areas in the capital, Khartoum.

Eyewitnesses reported strong blasts that resulted in the rise of smoke, due to the intensive shelling of the residential areas in Burri.

Local sources revealed that Omdurman's southern areas were targeted by artillery shelling by both parties.

Local committees in the Beit al-Mal area – an old town in Omdurman – said several residents were injured in the unrest, urging the Sudanese army to stop aerial strikes immediately.

They said the raids are causing more human and material losses than the RSF.

Meanwhile, the RSF accused the army of obstructing the delivery of aid to those in need.

“The SAF's active interference in the transport of humanitarian aid to areas under the protection of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stands in direct violation of the commitments mutually established earlier this month. These commitments were explicitly designed to ensure the rapid and unhindered transit of humanitarian support,” the RSF said Saturday in a post on X.

“Additionally, we must draw attention to the impediments faced by international organizations operating in RSF-safeguarded regions. These include deliberate delays in the issuance of staff visas and barriers in the transportation of crucial medical supplies to healthcare facilities, adversely impacting organizations such as Medecins Sans Frontieres and the Emergency Italian Organization,” added the post.

“In the strongest terms, we condemn the actions undertaken by the SAF and call upon the international community and all relevant international organizations to voice their denunciation of these acts, which purposefully deprive innocent civilians of their essential human rights.”

“In response to these flagrant violations of humanitarian ethics, we will adopt a resolute stance. We will not remain passive in the face of such egregious conduct.”

The warring parties agreed at the second round of Jeddah Talks on November 7 on arrangements to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery and procedures to build trust. The talks were brokered by Saudi Arabia, the US, and representatives from the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

The commitments include participation in a joint humanitarian forum led by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to resolve impediments to humanitarian access and deliveries of assistance.

Obligations also included the establishment of communication between SAF and RSF leaders, arrest of escaped prisoners and fugitives, and easing of inflammatory rhetoric.