Sudanese Army Intercepts RSF Drones Amid Humanitarian Truce Talks

Cairo, Nov 7 (AP) The Sudanese army intercepted drones launched overnight by its rival paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), targeting two northeastern Sudanese cities, according to a military official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The official reported that 15 drones targeted the city of Atbara, located north of Khartoum in the River Nile province.

He confirmed that there were explosions heard by residents, but no casualties were reported.

Additionally, a smaller-scale drone attack targeted Omdurman, Khartoum's sister city, and was intercepted by ground defences.

The RSF's drone attacks come shortly after the group announced it would agree to a humanitarian truce put forth by a US-led mediator group known as the Quad.

However, a Sudanese military official stated that while the army welcomes the Quad's proposal, they would only agree to a truce if the RSF fully withdraws from civilian areas and surrenders weapons in line with previous peace agreements.

The conflict between the RSF and the military erupted in 2023 following rising tensions between the two entities, who were initially allies meant to oversee Sudan's democratic transition after a 2019 uprising.

The ongoing fighting has resulted in the deaths of at least 40,000 people, according to the WHO, with 12 million displaced.

Aid groups suggest that the actual death toll might be significantly higher.

The World Food Programme reports that more than 24 million individuals in Sudan are facing acute food insecurity.

A US-led plan aims to establish a three-month humanitarian truce, followed by a nine-month political process, as stated by Massad Boulos, a US adviser for African affairs, earlier this week.

On Friday, the UN's Human Rights Council announced an emergency special session on Sudan, scheduled for November 14, to discuss the recent violence against civilians in and around the Darfur city of el-Fasher.

This session, prompted by Britain, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Norway, has garnered support from 24 of the 47-member Human Rights Council.

The RSF's announcement to agree to the truce comes over a week after the group seized el-Fasher city, which had been besieged for over 18 months.

El-Fasher was also the last Sudanese military stronghold in the western Darfur region.

UNICEF reported that more than 81,000 people have been displaced from el-Fasher since October 26, highlighting rising needs for shelter, food, water, and medical care, though aid delivery remains limited.

The organization identified over 850 children with acute malnutrition who are receiving treatment.

Violence, sexual assaults, and looting of health facilities continue to prevail across North Darfur, with women and children being the most vulnerable. (AP)

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