Sudan’s army and paramilitary forces are fighting over control of the country, and more than 180 people have been killed.
Sudan has been ruled by the military since a coup in 2021, when the army seized power from a power-sharing government made of military and civilian leaders that was established after the country’s long-time dictator, Omar al-Bashir, was overthrown by an uprising in 2019.
After taking power in 2021, the military promised elections in July 2023, but key generals have since started disagreeing on the future of the country.
The two rival factions of the military include General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan’s de factor ruler since the 2021 coup, and his deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemeti, who runs the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group.
Fighting broke out on Saturday April 15, as the two groups vied for control over important infrastructure such as the presidential palace, state television, army headquarters, airports, and sea ports, according to the BBC.
Much of the fighting has happened in urban areas where many civilians are, including the capital Khartoum.
At least 185 people have been killed, more than 1,800 have been injured, and the death toll is still expected to rise.
Civilians are reporting food and water shortages, and humanitarian groups say it is nearly impossible to get aid into Khartoum.
“We’re scared, we haven’t slept for 24 hours because of the noise and the house shaking. We’re worried about running out of water and food, and medicine for my diabetic father,” a resident in Khartoum told Reuters.
The UN World Food Programme(WFP) has temporarily stopped operations and providing essentials after three Sudanese members were killed.
The UN proposed a ceasefire to allow civilian evacuations beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday, which was agreed by both generals, but the fighting resumed after a short respite.
Foreign countries have asked the groups to end violence, and the UN has condemned the killings of civilians.
