Americans urged to avoid Wadi Seidna airport amid Sudan violence

ANKARA

The United States on Saturday urged US citizens in Sudan to stay away from the areas near the Wadi Seidna airport, north of capital Khartoum, amid increased violence.

Renewed clashes erupted on Saturday between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) despite a 3-day cease-fire.

"The Department of State recommends US citizens avoid the Wadi Seidna Airfield starting on 29 April due to the threat of increased violence in and around the airfield,” the US Embassy in Khartoum said.

Sudan's army and the RSF agreed to extend a humanitarian truce on Thursday night for 72 more hours, but the parties have reported violations of the cease-fire.

According to the Sudanese Health Ministry, at least 512 people have been killed and more than 4,000 injured since the start of the conflict on April 15.

A disagreement had been fomenting in recent months between the army and the paramilitaries over military security reform. The reform envisages full RSF participation in the military, one of the main issues in negotiations by international and regional parties for a transition to civilian, democratic rule in Sudan.

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.”

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