Sudan extends until July 10 the closure of its airspace while the UN warns of a national “catastrophe”

July 1 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority announced this Saturday the entry into force of a new extension of the closure of the national airspace, except for humanitarian flights, due to fighting between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). which, since April 15, have dragged the African country into a “spiral of destruction at an unprecedented speed”, in the opinion of the United Nations.

The closure of airspace, ordered shortly after the fighting began, is intended to facilitate attacks by the Sudanese Air Force on rebel positions in particular in the capital, Khartoum, and in its sister cities of North Khartoum and Omdurman.

However, this bombing campaign has not tipped the conflict in favor of the Sudanese Army and fighting continues in these cities, as well as in the territory of Darfur.

“The scale and speed of Sudan’s descent into destruction are unprecedented,” lamented the deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary General, Farhan Haq, in an interview with the Arabi 21 channel in which he described the situation in the country as simply “catastrophic”.

“The fighting is being fierce, they are attacking the population in their homes and in the streets. Hundreds of civilians have died, thousands have been injured and these numbers increase with each passing day,” he indicated before rejecting, once again , the declaration of persona non grata made by the Sudanese authorities against their envoy in the country, Volker Perthes, allegedly for acting as an intoxicant.

“Only the representative of a State can be declared persona non grata. The UN is an international organization. Mr. Perthes continues to act as special representative in Sudan and works from Nairobi (Kenya),” Haq assured.

The United States and the United Nations have raised the alarm in recent weeks over the rampant violence in the state of Western Darfur and particularly in its capital, El Genenina. Last week, the observation platform Conflict Observatory, validated by the US State Department, warned of the commission of “potential atrocities” in the state capital. The fighting has now spread to the town of Murnei, according to the latest information published last Wednesday.

Given the danger of contagion, civil society groups in North Darfur have managed to agree a ceasefire between both sides to protect the civilian population, especially in the capital, El Fasher, as confirmed this past Thursday by the acting governor. of the state, Namir Abdelramán, in comments collected by Radio Dabanga.

“I want to ask all Sudanese to start similar initiatives to stop the war, especially those who have good relations with both sides,” the governor said in a speech on the occasion of Eid al Adha.