The Pakistani Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, was attacked on Wednesday as the conflict between Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries continued for the fifth consecutive day.
According to the Embassy, three bullets struck the Chancery building amidst the clashes, causing damage. This incident is considered a blatant violation of the Vienna Convention, which mandates host governments to provide security for diplomatic missions.
In light of the deteriorating security situation, the Embassy urged both parties to exercise restraint and called upon the Sudanese government to deploy security personnel to protect and secure the Pakistani Embassy. Additionally, the Embassy advised all Pakistanis in Khartoum, estimated to be around a thousand, to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary outings.
The ongoing violence in Sudan’s capital has led to the deaths of more than 270 civilians, with thousands fleeing the city. Witnesses have reported bodies in the streets, and foreign diplomats have also been attacked. In addition, the United Nations (UN) has received reports of assaults and sexual violence against aid workers, leading several governments to plan evacuations for their citizens, including many UN staff members.
The fighting between the army and RSF erupted on Saturday due to a dispute between the two generals who had seized power in a 2021 coup. Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the RSF, disagreed over the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army, which is a crucial requirement for reaching a final agreement to restore Sudan’s democratic transition.
As a result of the conflict, heavy gunfire and explosions have rocked Khartoum, a city with a population of five million. Residential and commercial buildings have sustained damage, and civilians sheltering their homes face increasing desperation due to dwindling food supplies, power outages, and a lack of running water. Despite attempts to establish a ceasefire, the army and the RSF have blamed each other for breaking truces brokered by South Sudan, leaving the situation unresolved.
