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Topline
A representative from the World Health Organization Tuesday warned that the presence of fighters in a health lab in Sudan could pose a major “biological risk,” amid fears that an ongoing power struggle between the country’s army and main paramilitary force could spiral into a deadly civil war.
This image grab taken from AFPTV video footage on April 20, 2023, shows an aerial view of black … [+]
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
Nima Saeed Abid, the WHO’s representative in Sudan, told reporters that some fighters have occupied the National Public Health Laboratory in the capital city of Khartoum which holds samples of various pathogens including measles and polio, the AFP reported.
Calling it an “extremely, extremely dangerous” situation, Abid warned there is a “huge biological risk associated with the occupation.”
Technicians at the lab were kicked out by the occupying force, Abid noted, adding that the building also contains blood supplies, Reuters reported.
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The WHO representative expressed concern that the technicians don’t have access to go back into the lab and safely remove the dangerous biological material.
It is unclear if the occupying fighters belong to the Sudanese armed forces or the rival Rapid Support Force (RSF) paramilitary group.
What To Watch For
The two warring factions have agreed to a three-day ceasefire, which has enabled various foreign governments to evacuate their citizens from the country. The ceasefire was reportedly brokered by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. will work with its partners and Sudanese civilian officials to implement a long-term peace arrangement.
Key Background
The ongoing clash in Sudan involves two of the country’s most powerful armed groups, the army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF paramilitary force led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The two leaders draw their support from tens of thousands of armed personnel and worked together in 2021 to carry out a military coup to seize power. In the lead-up to the ongoing conflict, both leaders had agreed to allow a transition back to democracy, working with Sudan’s various political parties. However, the proposed integration of the RSF into the Sudanese Armed Forces and the hierarchy of the military emerged as a key sticking point between Burhan and Dagalo. Dagalo has tried to present himself as a pro-democracy figure but concerns have been raised about his and his militia’s alleged links to the Russian mercenary group Wagner—which is accused of committing several atrocities and is actively involved in Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Last week the RSF was accused of firing at a U.S. diplomatic convoy.
