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| Sudan: Fighting erupts in Khartoum as army and paramilitary force clash | Sudan: Fighting erupts in Khartoum as army and paramilitary force clash |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Gunfire and explosions have been heard in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, after days of tension between a notorious paramilitary force and the country's army. | Gunfire and explosions have been heard in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, after days of tension between a notorious paramilitary force and the country's army. |
| The dispute centres around a proposed transition to civilian rule. | The dispute centres around a proposed transition to civilian rule. |
| Reuters is reporting that gunfire has been heard close to the headquarters of the army in the centre of the city. | Reuters is reporting that gunfire has been heard close to the headquarters of the army in the centre of the city. |
| The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) says it has taken control of the airport and presidential palace. | |
| These claims have not been confirmed. | |
| Earlier the RSF had said that one of its camps in the south of Khartoum had been attacked. | |
| For its part, the army has said that RSF fighters have been trying to seize the military headquarters. | |
| "Fighters from the Rapid Support Forces attacked several army camps in Khartoum and elsewhere around Sudan," the AFP news agency quotes army spokesman Brig Gen Nabil Abdallah as saying. | |
| "Clashes are ongoing and the army is carrying out its duty to safeguard the country." | "Clashes are ongoing and the army is carrying out its duty to safeguard the country." |
| The Reuters news agency is also citing witnesses as saying that there was gunfire in the northern city of Merowe. | |
| Alarabyia TV is broadcasting pictures of smoke rising from a military camp there, Reuters reports. | Alarabyia TV is broadcasting pictures of smoke rising from a military camp there, Reuters reports. |
| Generals have been running the country, through what is called the Sovereign Council, since a coup in October 2021. | |
| The RSF is under the command of the council's vice-president Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The army, meanwhile, is led by Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who is the head of the Sovereign Council. | The RSF is under the command of the council's vice-president Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The army, meanwhile, is led by Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who is the head of the Sovereign Council. |
| A proposed move to a civilian-led government has foundered on the timetable to integrate the RSF into the national army. | A proposed move to a civilian-led government has foundered on the timetable to integrate the RSF into the national army. |
| The RSF wanted to delay it for 10 years, but the army said it should happen in two years. | The RSF wanted to delay it for 10 years, but the army said it should happen in two years. |
| On Thursday, the RSF deployed forces near the military base in Merowe as tensions increased this week. | |
| Gen Burhan said he was willing to talk to his second in command to resolve the dispute over who would lead a unified army in a proposed civilian government. | |
| Western powers and regional leaders had urged the two sides to de-escalate tensions and to go back to talks aimed at restoring civilian rule. | |
| There had been signs on Friday that the situation would be resolved. | |
| In a tweet, US Ambassador John Godfrey said: "I urgently call on senior military leaders to stop the fighting." | |
| Describing the situation in the city, he said he "woke up to the deeply disturbing sounds of gunfire and fighting. I am currently sheltering in place with the Embassy team, as Sudanese throughout Khartoum and elsewhere are doing." | |
| Russia's embassy is also concerned by the "escalation of violence" and has urged a ceasefire, Reuters reports. | |
| The 2021 coup ended a period of more than two years when military and civilian leaders were sharing power. That deal came after Sudan's long-term authoritarian President Omar al-Bashir was overthrown. | |
| There have been regular pro-democracy protests in Khartoum ever since the coup. | |
| Top Sudan military figure says coup was a mistake | |
| Sudan army unveil new deal to return civilian rule | |
| Return of Bashir loyalists raises Sudan alarm | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Sudan | Sudan |