Army warns RSF, imposes curfew in second largest city

Tripoli condemns attack on Libyan Embassy in Sudan, African Union (AU) affirms commitment as latest developments on the situation in Sudan.

(05.31) Tình hình Sudan tiếp tục diễn biến phức tạp với hậu quả nhân đạo nghiêm trọng, bất chấp thỏa thuận ngừng bắn tạm thời giữa các bên liên quan. (Nguồn AP)

The situation in Sudan continues to develop complicatedly with serious humanitarian consequences, despite the temporary ceasefire agreement between the parties involved. (Source: AP)

* On May 30, speaking during a unit inspection, Sudanese Army Commander-in-Chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared that the Sudanese army is fighting on behalf of the people in the conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and has not used the existing lethal force.

However, he stressed that the army would act if the RSF did not “obey or respond to the voice of reason” and would fight until victory.

General Al-Burhan also confirmed that the Sudanese army had agreed to extend the ceasefire agreement on May 20 to facilitate the delivery of aid to the people.

* On the same day, the Governor of Red Sea State, where Port Sudan, the main port and second largest city of Sudan, is located, declared a curfew from 11:00 p.m. the previous night to 5:00 a.m. the following morning (local time). Notably, this is where many evacuations of Sudanese and foreign citizens took place after the recent fierce fighting, which killed 863 civilians and injured 3,531 others.

* Also on May 30, the Libyan Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and looting of its embassy in Sudan's capital, Khartoum. Tripoli affirmed that the attack and looting of the Libyan embassy in Khartoum violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and all laws and customs governing diplomatic affairs between countries.

The Libyan Foreign Ministry expressed “deep regret and indignation at such actions”, calling on the rival parties in Sudan to abandon violence and stop fighting, protect diplomatic missions, “resolve problems and differences through dialogue and peaceful means”.

* For its part, the African Union (AU) issued a statement stating: “The African Union strongly condemns the brutal and unjustified conflict taking place between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, which has resulted in the deaths of many innocent civilians and the wanton destruction of infrastructure.”

The regional organization assessed that the conflict in Sudan has led to an unprecedented humanitarian situation, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian and human rights law.

Stressing that the conflict cannot be resolved by military means, the AU also called on the parties to resume the political transition process and conduct elections towards a democratic, civilian-led government. The organization also “resolutely rejects all forms of external interference in Sudan.”

Since April 15, the Sudanese army and RSF have been engaged in armed clashes in Khartoum and other areas, with both sides accusing each other of initiating the conflict. On May 29, the Sudanese army and RSF agreed to extend the ceasefire signed on May 20 for another five days after talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. However, the parties have yet to find common ground on a long-term ceasefire.

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