Ongoing Clashes and Artillery Shelling Reported in Sudan’s Capital

24-Hour Truce Ends, Fighting Resumes

Reports of ongoing clashes and artillery shelling have emerged from parts of Sudan’s capital early Sunday morning, shortly after the end of a 24-hour truce that brought about a brief lull in eight weeks of fighting. The shelling occurred at 6 am (0400 GMT) in the north of Omdurman, which, along with neighboring Khartoum and Bahri, forms a metropolitan triangle around the confluence of the Nile.

Shelling in East Nile Region and Bridge Connecting Omdurman and Bahri

Residents reported that the artillery shelling took place in the East Nile region on the eastern outskirts of the capital. On the bridge connecting Omdurman and Bahri, there were reports of explosions and clashes in Khartoum.

Fighting Concentrated in Capital, Unrest in Other Parts

Fighting is concentrated in the capital, much of which has become a battlefield of looting and clashes. Unrest has also erupted in other parts of Sudan, such as the western Darfur region, which has already suffered from a conflict that peaked almost 20 years ago.

Conflict Sparked by Tensions over Transition to Civilian Rule

On April 15, war broke out between the Sudanese army and paramilitary operational support forces due to tensions over an internationally backed plan to transition to civilian rule. The conflict has displaced more than 1.9 million people, sparking a major humanitarian crisis amid fears it will spill over into the troubled region.

Egypt Tightens Procedures for Entering its Lands

Yesterday, on Saturday, Egypt tightened the procedures for entering its lands and issued a new decision obliging all Sudanese men aged 16 to 50 to obtain a visa. Even before the rules were changed, thousands of Sudanese faced long waits at borders trying to get visas.