Background: Two generals are fighting for power
A power struggle within the military regime in Sudan degenerated into great violence on Saturday 15 April.
The fighting is between the Sudanese army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary RSF (Rapid Support Forces) led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
Both generals claim to lead the country. Both are also the subject of allegations of widespread human rights abuses since cracking down on democratic opposition.
In 2019, the military deposed the dictator Omar al-Bashir, when he was pressured by widespread protests in the country where the population had grown tired of his rule.
Before falling out with each other, the generals created a junta and initially promised to share power during a transition to a democratic Sudan. But in October 2021, a new military coup took place in which the civilian leaders who were involved in governing were poked or imprisoned. A regular military junta took over, with the two generals at the helm.
Late on Friday, the army said it had sent envoys to discuss “details of the ceasefire being extended” with the RSF paramilitary forces.
According to a Saudi diplomat, representatives of Britain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States are also to participate in the talks held on Saturday in the city of Jeddah.
Since the violent conflict escalated on April 15, several cease-fire agreements have been signed, but none of them have been respected.
The ongoing fighting in Khartoum has also not been affected by the US threats of sanctions made by President Joe Biden on Thursday. The threats were directed at those responsible for “threatening the peace, security, and stability of Sudan”.
Around 700 people have died in the conflict so far, mostly in the capital and in the western region of Darfur.