On Monday, the Sudanese capital of Khartoum awoke to a third day of heavy fighting between the army and a powerful rival force vying for control of the country. The civilian death toll has risen to 97, with airstrikes reported and clashes near the military headquarters.
The ongoing conflict is part of a power struggle between Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, former allies who jointly orchestrated an October 2021 military coup that derailed Sudan’s short-lived transition to democracy. Both leaders were key players in deposing ousted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
The United States, European Union, and African Union have called for a truce and urged both parties to return to negotiations. However, tensions continue unabated during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan which ends later this week.
As hundreds more are injured from fierce fighting in Sudan's capital city, concerns grow over what these hostilities could mean for civilians caught in crossfire between forces loyal to two rival generals — Burhan and Dagalo.
Dr. Nadia Ahmed Abdalla expressed her deep concern about how quickly events have escalated: "We've seen dozens killed already due just days into this intense conflict; we can only expect it will get worse before it gets better."
A representative from the U.N., James Hillman, highlighted that "the violence erupted at such an unfortunate time – amidst Ramadan – making matters worse." He added that international pressure must be applied on all sides involved if there's any hope for peace talks or diplomacy getting back on track once more after recent developments spiraled out-of-control fast within this troubled nation-state currently grappling with its future direction since ousting Bashir years ago earlier now too (more recently).
The U.N. Security Council plans discuss these developments in Sudan later Monday, focusing on finding a resolution to the ongoing power struggle between these rival factions. Both Gen. Burhan and Gen. Dagalo have dug their heels in, viewing this conflict as an existential fight for dominance with potentially dire consequences for the people of Sudan caught in the middle.
As international pressure mounts and negotiations stall, it remains unclear how this deadly battle will ultimately be resolved or what lasting impact it will have on Sudan's already fragile political landscape.