The Sudanese Armed Forces announced on Friday that it had successfully intercepted a series of drone strikes launched overnight by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on two cities in the country’s northeast.
According to a military official, the intercepted attacks involved 15 drones targeting the city of Atbara in River Nile province. A separate, smaller-scale drone attack was also launched on Um Durman, a sister city of the capital, Khartoum.
The military’s claim of intercepting the drones could not be immediately independently verified.
The RSF strikes come just one day after the paramilitary group stated it had agreed to a comprehensive humanitarian truce and political roadmap put forward by a US-led mediator group. The proposed plan, as outlined, would begin with a three-month humanitarian truce, followed by a nine-month political process aimed at resolving the conflict.
The Sudanese Armed Forces, however, have set a firm precondition for any agreement. A military spokesperson reiterated that the army would only agree to a truce if the RSF withdraws from civilian areas and lays down its weapons.
The war between the two rival military factions, which erupted in April 2023, has plunged the nation into a devastating crisis. The United Nations has described the situation as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 40,000 people and displaced approximately 14 million others from their homes.
Friday’s drone attacks and the army’s response highlight the deep-seated distrust between the warring parties and the significant obstacles facing international efforts to broker a lasting peace.
Â