AMN/ WEB DESK
In Sudan, ceasefire talks between representatives of the warring sides will resume in Jeddah today. The warring factions, Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces, signed a declaration of commitment on Thursday, after a week of talks mediated by hosts Saudi Arabia and the US.
Meanwhile, heavy fighting between warring parties has continued in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and other cities ahead of the ceasefire talks. One of Sudan’s most prominent singers, Shaden Gardood, has been killed in crossfire in the Sudanese city of Omdurman. Gardood regularly made live videos on Facebook talking about the clashes and shelling in her neighbourhood, and she wrote intensively against the war.
The war between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces began nearly a month ago. So far hundreds have been killed and nearly 200,000 have fled their homes for neighbouring states. An estimated 700,000 have been displaced inside the country.
Widespread looting, as well as the withdrawal of international aid organisations, has led to severe shortages of food and medicine. Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres warned that conditions for children were likely to deteriorate.
Sudan’s civil aviation authority has said Sudanese airspace would remain closed to all traffic until the 31st of May, but humanitarian aid and evacuation flights would remain unaffected.