On Friday, Sudan’s de facto leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, dismissed his former deputy and current rival, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, while clashes between the supporters of these two leaders continued in both Khartoum and Darfur, despite regional and international appeals for a humanitarian ceasefire.
Sudan’s de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan sacked his deputy-turned-rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo Friday, as forces loyal to the feuding generals pressed on with fighting in both Khartoum and Darfur.
The United Nations, meanwhile, warned that humanitarian needs are increasing in Sudan, with aid chief Martin Griffith allocating $22 million in emergency funds to help Sudanese fleeing the violence.
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says more than 1 million people have been displaced by the power struggle between Burhan and Daglo, who leads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Hundreds have been killed in the fighting, which has now raged for more than a month.
On Friday, witnesses reported exchanges of fire both in the capital Khartoum and in the troubled Darfur region, where armed civilians have also entered the fray, stoking ethnic and tribal rivalries.
In Central Darfur, RSF fighters are trying to push Burhan’s military from its headquarters in the capital Zalingei, residents said.
The persistent violence has defied regional and international calls for a humanitarian ceasefire.
Representatives of the warring generals have been in Saudi Arabia, which hosted an Arab summit on Friday and has been trying to hammer out a humanitarian ceasefire.
Daglo’s envoy Yusif Isha held talks with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and IGAD officials in Juba on Wednesday.
With neither side appearing to have the upper hand, on Friday Burhan sacked Daglo and appointed three allies to top jobs in the military.
“General Burhan has issued a constitutional decree assigning Malik Agar to the post of vice-president of the ruling transitional Sovereignty Council, effective today,” the council said on its Facebook page.
The military also reported that Burhan named General Shamsedding Kabashi to be his deputy, and chose two other loyal officers to be his assistants.
The United Nations has voiced fears the crisis in Khartoum could spread to neighbouring countries now flooded with Sudanese fleeing the violence. It renewed its appeals for the safety of civilians caught in the crossfire to be respected.
Miroslava Salazar with AFP
