Red Cross convoy attacked in Sudan

An attack on a humanitarian convoy of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Khartoum killed two people and injured seven Sunday, the ICRC said. (@ICRC_Sudan)

NAIROBI, Kenya - An International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) convoy was on Sunday attacked in Sudan, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) reported, even as a roadmap for stability was reached in Djibouti by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

The team was evacuating civilians from Khartoum, the capital of Sudan when it came under intense gunfire from their attackers, which has triggered worldwide condemnation since it goes against the rules of humanitarian assistance and war.

The fire occurred after the ICRC convoy “violated an agreement with the Sudanese army by approaching our defensive positions accompanied by an armed vehicle belonging to the rebels,” the SAF’s spokesman said in a statement, expressing their regret over the incident.

Meanwhile, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Sunday accused the SAF of attacking the ICRC convoy, which, according to a statement by the RSF, has killed two people and injured another. Both RSF and SAF have been battling over the control of the country.

There were plans to integrate RSF into the national army but the move was abandoned under unclear circumstances, leading to the current standoff. RSF amassed influence and power during the reigns of Omar al-Bashir, the deposed Sudanese leader.

More than 12,000 people have been killed so far in the clashes, while 6.6 million others have been displaced inside and outside Sudan, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, AP reports.

While calling for order in the country, IGAD asked both parties to respect each other besides embracing a ceasefire for easy flow of humanitarian aid. Sudan has been in shambles since 2019 when al-Bashir was removed following a civilian uprising which was later seized by military generals.

GAROWE ONLINE