Explosions and gunfire in Khartoum on first day of new 72-hour truce

New explosions and gunfire were heard in the centre of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, despite the entry into force of the 72-hour truce between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF), an armistice mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Heavy and light weapons fire was heard in the vicinity of the Republican Palace in central Khartoum, while plumes of smoke rose in the vicinity of the iconic building, the scene of heavy fighting since the outbreak of fighting on 15 April, witnesses told EFE news agency.

In addition, the informants said they heard "violent explosions" and saw smoke rising north of the Kafouri neighbourhood and around the areas of Shambat and Al-Sababi in Khartoum North, near the capital.

According to these testimonies, they saw a warplane dropping explosives in an area where the Rapid Support Forces are located.

Also, in the south of Khartoum, fighter jets were flown and explosions were heard in the Soba area, where a RSF camp is located.

The army and RSF announced yesterday their acceptance of a third 72-hour truce, starting at 22:00 GMT on Sunday, after the first truce was announced on 24 April, which did not bring a complete halt to the fighting but did help evacuate thousands of foreigners from the country and allow Sudanese to move to safer areas.

Fighting erupted on the 15th amid tensions over the process of army reform and the integration of paramilitaries into the regular forces, as part of a political process to put the country back on a democratic path after the 2021 coup d'état.

At least 528 people have been killed and more than 4,500 injured since the fighting began, according to the Sudanese Ministry of Health.