Germany calls for immediate cease-fire in Sudan

BERLIN (AA) - Germany on Monday called for an immediate cease-fire and return to talks in Sudan.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Andrea Sasse condemned the fighting between Sudanese army and paramilitary forces.

“We are once again calling on both parties to establish an immediate cease-fire and return to talks,” she said, and reaffirmed Berlin’s support to political process for Sudan’s transition to a civilian-led government.

At least 97 civilians have been killed and hundreds of others wounded since the fighting began on Saturday between Sudan's military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Clashes intensified on Monday morning in and around the army headquarters with airstrikes and gunfire between the two sides, according to local media.

The dispute between the two sides came to the surface Thursday when the army said recent movements by the RSF had occurred without coordination and were illegal, with their rift centering around a proposed transition to civilian rule.

Sudan has been without a functioning government since October 2021 when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s transitional government and declared a state of emergency, in a move decried by political forces as a “coup.”

Last December, Sudan’s military and political forces signed a framework agreement to resolve the months-long crisis.

The signing of the final agreement was scheduled to take place on April 6 but was delayed. No date has been announced for the signing of the deal.

Sudan’s transitional period, which started in August 2019, was scheduled to end with elections in early 2024.