Global Courant 2023-04-16 05:55:21
Gunfire and fighting broke out in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum between the country’s army and a paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces, after days of tension over a proposed transition to civilian rule.
Rapid Support Forces said it had taken control of Khartoum International Airport, the presidential palace and the residence of army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
The army has said that RSF fighters are trying to capture the military headquarters.
“The clashes with the Rapid Support Forces are ongoing and the army is carrying out its duty to protect the country,” said army spokesman Brig. General Nabil Abdallah told AFP.
People run past a military vehicle in Khartoum, on April 15, 2023, amid reported clashes in the city. Sudanese paramilitaries said they had taken control of several key sites, including the presidential palace in central Khartoum, after fighting with the regular army on April 15.
AFP via Getty Images
According to Al Jazeera, Sudanese special forces later said they had retaken control of Khartoum airport from the RSF. The army said it has also taken control of one of the military bases previously seized by the RSF.
Gunshots and explosions can be heard in videos taken by residents of Khartoum and photos show smoke rising in Khartoum.
According to the Associated Press, tensions between the Sudanese army and the RSF stem from a disagreement over how the RSF, led by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, should be integrated into the army and which authority should oversee the process. The merger is a key condition of Sudan’s unsigned transitional agreement.
Heavy clouds of smoke billowed over buildings near Khartoum airport on April 15, 2023, amid clashes in the Sudanese capital. Explosions shook the Sudanese capital on April 15 as paramilitaries and the regular army attacked each other’s bases, days after the army warned the country was at a “dangerous” turning point.
AFP via Getty Images
In a joint statement Released on Thursday, special envoys and representatives from France, Germany, Norway, the UK, the US and the EU said they are concerned that heightened tensions and escalating actions threaten to derail negotiations to establish a civilian-led government.
“We call on Sudan’s military and civilian leaders to take active steps to ease tensions. We urge them to honor their commitments and engage constructively to address outstanding issues related to the reform of the dissolving the security sector to create a future unified, professional military accountable to a civilian government,” the statement said.
“Establishing a civilian-led transitional government is essential to address Sudan’s pressing political, economic, security and humanitarian challenges and is key to unlocking international aid,” it added.
Clashes between the Sudanese military and the RSF in recent months have delayed the signing of the internationally backed agreement to hand Sudan over to civilian leadership, according to the Associated Press.
Major parties in Khartoum have agreed on how to proceed with the transition from civilian rule. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters at a news conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, that he spoke with General Burhan this week and said he believes there is a real opportunity to move forward with the agreed framework, which the US strongly supported. But there are still some important remaining issues to be addressed.
Smoke rises in Khartoum, Sudan, on April 15, 2023, as gunshots were heard in the Sudanese capital.
Xinhua via Shutterstock
Blinken called it a fragile situation and said there are other actors who may be working against progress, but said this is a real opportunity to finally continue the citizen-led transition that the US and other countries are trying to support.
“Deeply concerned about reports of escalating violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces. We are in contact with the team at the Embassy in Khartoum – everything is accounted for at this time. We urge all actors to stop the violence immediately and further escalations or mess.” mobilizations and continue talks to resolve outstanding issues,” Blinken said in a statement tweet on Saturday.
The US Embassy in Khartoum is not currently evacuating US citizens and advised those in Khartoum and surrounding areas to take shelter in place and monitor the embassy website and local media for security updates. Government employees are prohibited from traveling outside the Khartoum/Omdurman/Bahri metropolitan area until April 19.
“I arrived in Khartoum late last night and woke up to the very disturbing sounds of gunfire and fighting. I am currently sheltering in place with the embassy team, as Sudanese do in Khartoum and elsewhere,” said John Godfrey, the US ambassador to Sudan. said in a tweet Saturday.
“Escalating tensions within the military component to direct fighting is extremely dangerous. I urge senior military leaders to stop fighting,” Godfrey said.
