Heavy fighting broke out in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Saturday morning between the troops of two rival generals. Meanwhile, General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo’s RSF paramilitary group claims to control the presidential palace and airport. At least three people have already died.
In a statement, the RSF (Rapid Support Forces) said Saturday that the paramilitary group has seized control of “the presidential palace”, “Khartoum airport”, and several other “bases in different provinces”. The regular army, on the other hand, argues that the messages from RSF are “lies”.
Several neighbourhoods in Khartoum woke up Saturday to the quasi-continuous noise of gunfire and explosions. They were heard both in the north of the city, where the presidential palace and airport are located, and in the south, where the RSF headquarters are. The army and paramilitaries accuse each other of starting the hostilities.
The chaos is complete. At least three people have been killed, according to an aid organization. According to local media, two people were killed after a shell hit a passenger plane at the airport. Aircraft tracker data shows how commercial flights avoid Sudan like the plague and fail to land there.
BBC journalist Mohamed Osman was beaten by a soldier in Khartoum. His car was stopped, and the man was taken to the army command. He received a blow to the head when he explained what he was doing there.
Incidents also occur in the building where the state television is located. During a broadcast after that, the presenter said that fighting was also occurring in the building, while gunfire could be heard in the background, Reuters reports.
The fighting results from rising tensions between Daglo and army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, Sudan’s de facto leader. Both generals were still side by side during the military coup of October 2021, but Daglo gradually distanced himself from Burhane. Their rivalry provoked a deep political crisis and stood in the way of transitioning to a new civilian government.
Integrating the RSF, a notorious militia of an estimated 100,000 former soldiers from Darfur, into the regular army was one of the giant stumbling blocks. The paramilitaries called on the population on Saturday to rally behind them and protect “the gains of the revolution”, referencing the popular uprising against dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
The UN, Saudi Arabia and the European Union, among others, have already called for at least a temporary ceasefire.