‘Most fearless’ fighting in Sudan after 24-hour ceasefire ends

Fighting has resumed with renewed intensity following a brief period of respite on Saturday, the quietest since Sudan broke out into conflict nearly eight weeks ago when a rivalry between the army and its rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) exploded into open warfare.

Within 30 minutes of the ceasefire ending on Sunday morning, air raids, artillery shelling and machine guns could be heard pounding several parts of the country, according to Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan, reporting from Sudan.

7 civilians were killed in the capital of Khartoum due to the fighting, as the army launched airstrikes against RSF bases.

While Saturday marked the calmest day since the conflict began, Sunday’s fighting has been the “most fearless”, with residents sheltering in place for safety, Morgan said.

Witnesses said fighting resumed in the north of Omdurman, in el-Geneina near the border with Chad, and in el-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, southwest of Khartoum.

The United States and Saudi Arabia-brokered ceasefire was set in order to facilitate the safe passage of desperately needed humanitarian aid across the country. It was also hoped that it would halt the fighting that has been raging since April 15.