Violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and a government paramilitary force, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), roiled Sudan’s capital Khartoum Saturday. Sudan has struggled to transition to civilian rule after overthrowing dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019; Saturday’s clashes are a further impediment to democracy.
Each armed group has blamed the other for instigating Saturday’s violence, which has thus far killed at least three people, according to the BBC. The RSF has claimed control over key sites in the capital Khartoum, including three airports, the army chief’s residence, and the presidential palace, with attacks near the defense ministry, army headquarters, and state television station also reported. The armed forces deny the RSF’s claims and have announced attacks on RSF bases. Clashes in Darfur, Forobaranga, and Merowe have also been reported.
Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of the SAF and Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also called Hemedti, of the RSF agreed on Friday to defuse long-simmering tensions between the two groups over military leadership in a civilian government as well as disagreements over the timetable for the RSF’s integration into the regular army.
The RSF last month began mobilizing forces in Khartoum and other locations, Reuters reported Friday, an outward indicator of just how far the situation had deteriorated. Despite calls for talks on Friday, Hemedti on Saturday told Al Jazeera the RSF would fight until all military bases are captured.
Abdalla Hamdok, Sudan’s civilian former prime minister, released a video statement on Saturday calling for an immediate cease to the hostilities. “I demand al-Burhan, the army commanders, and the RSF leaders to stop the bullets immediately and for the voice of reason to rule,” he said in the address. “There is no victor over the corpses of its people.”
Hamdok led Sudan under a power-sharing agreement with military actors after a popular uprising toppled former Sudanese leader…
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