The fragile ceasefire deal announced on Sunday between the government of Sudan and a coalition of rebel forces has been thrown into doubt following another night of heavy shelling in Khartoum. The Sudanese government and its allies have denied any involvement in the shelling, while reports indicate that the pro-government Popular Defense Forces carried out the assault.
The violence comes after months of protests and strikes by Sudanese citizens against the ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC). Though the government and the coalition signed a ceasefire deal at the end of August, Sunday’s violence calls into question the reliability of the pact.
The latest round of violence has caused renewed concern among civilians and other stakeholders in the peace process, particularly following reports of heavy civilian casualties. Even before Sunday’s shelling, peace activists had been frustrated that the terms of the ceasefire deal had not included a clear timeline for the transition from military control to civilian rule.
The two sides are now likely to face further delays and mistrust as they attempt to reach a permanent agreement on power-sharing. Human rights groups have also called for an investigation into the shelling and the death of a 19-year-old protester in order to ensure the deal is not derailed further.
Ultimately, the renewed