Violent armed clashes erupted today, Saturday, between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum, resulting in the deaths of at least 3 civilians, according to the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate. Residents of Khartoum and Merowe woke up to the sounds of gunfire amidst panic and fear among citizens due to the clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. These incidents occurred within residential neighborhoods, leading to varying injuries and serious cases among citizens, and injuries are still ongoing.
The Rapid Support Forces announced their control over the presidential palace, the army command headquarters, and Khartoum International Airport, accusing the army of attacking them first and indicating that they had also taken control of the airports in the northern city of Merowe and the western city of El Obeid.
A state of terror grips citizens inside Khartoum Airport after a force from the rebel Rapid Support militia took control of the airport, as reported on social media. Gunfire was heard around the presidential palace in the capital, Khartoum, also near the sports city to the south and north of the capital.
During the clashes, one of Saudi Arabian Airlines' planes was shot at at the capital's airport. The state-owned company announced that it had transported the passengers and crew of the aircraft as well as Saudi Airlines employees at the airport to the Saudi Embassy in Khartoum. The company also announced the suspension of its flights to and from Sudan until further notice.
The Sudanese army stated that the air force was carrying out operations to confront the Rapid Support Forces, coinciding with warplanes flying over the capital Khartoum. The Rapid Support Forces indicated that the army had carried out an overwhelming attack with large forces on one of their bases in the Soba area of Khartoum, describing this act as cowardly.
In a phone call with Al Jazeera, the commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemetti, described Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan as a criminal and accused the army of executing a coup. Hemetti said his forces were forced into confrontation after clashes with the army erupted across the country following days of rising tensions between the two forces.
Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan explained that "the Rapid Support Forces attacked our bases at the guest house, and they also attacked my house at nine o'clock in the morning." He stated that "the Rapid Support Forces infiltrated the airport through the Hajj and Umrah hall, burned some planes, and our forces dealt with them," noting that "strategic facilities such as command and the palace are under control, and we have good precautions and military bases that we have not yet moved."
The Sudanese army issued a statement accusing the Rapid Support Forces of attacking several of its bases in Khartoum and other areas after it announced that those forces had attacked the army's camps. The official spokesperson for the Sudanese armed forces, Nabil Abdullah, noted that "in continuation of their trail of treachery, the Rapid Support Forces attempted to attack our forces in the sports city and other locations, and our armed forces are working to confront them."
The civil political forces that signed the framework agreement for power-sharing with the army and the Rapid Support Forces called on both sides to stop the fighting. They appealed to the international and regional community for urgent assistance to halt these bloody confrontations.
U.S. Ambassador to Sudan John Godfrey mentioned on Twitter that he arrived late last night in Khartoum and woke up to the deeply disturbing sounds of gunfire and fighting, currently sheltering in place with the Embassy team, as Sudanese citizens are doing throughout Khartoum and other places. Godfrey also urged Sudanese military leaders to cease fighting quickly.
The Russian embassy expressed concern about the escalating violence in Sudan, calling for a ceasefire and negotiations. Russian Ambassador Andrey Chernovol mentioned that clashes are ongoing but expected the conflicting sides to negotiate soon.
The United Nations special envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes, condemned the outbreak of fighting, stating that he contacted both parties, urging them to stop fighting immediately to ensure the safety of the Sudanese people and prevent further violence in the country.
Chad's government announced today that it has closed its border with Sudan, urging calm amidst what appears to be a coup attempt in Khartoum carried out by the Rapid Support Forces. The Chad government called on the regional and international community, as well as all friendly nations, to prioritize the restoration of peace.
