A Red Cross convoy was attacked in the capital of Sudan. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that two people died, including three ICRC staff members, and seven others were injured. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has expressed deep shock and profound dismay in response to the assault, characterizing it as a purposeful and intentional act, eliciting strong condemnation from the humanitarian organization.
The convoy, marked with Red Cross emblems, was targeted while evacuating over a hundred vulnerable civilians from Khartoum to Wad Madani. The ICRC condemned the deliberate attack but did not assign blame.
Sudan’s army claimed the convoy violated an agreement and was fired upon after approaching defensive positions, allegedly using a car linked to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF, in turn, accused the army of the attack. The ICRC convoy was evacuating civilians, including foreign nationals, from St Mary’s Church in Khartoum.
The ICRC emphasized that the humanitarian operation was coordinated with conflicting parties, who provided security guarantees.
Tensions between the army and the RSF have led to a conflict since April, causing widespread devastation and ethnic killings in Darfur.
In an effort to resolve the conflict, leaders of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) held a meeting.
Sudan’s army chief, General Abdel Fattah Burhan, and RSF commander, General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, agreed to an unconditional ceasefire and political dialogue.
They also agreed to a one-to-one meeting, but details, including the timing and location, were not provided.
The conflict erupted due to disagreements over political transition plans and integrating the RSF into the army.
More than 12,000 individuals lost their lives, and almost 6.8 million people were forced to leave their homes, as per rough calculations.
The efforts to find a solution involve groups like IGAD, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.
Discussions between the involved parties took place indirectly in November.
