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Sudan: Army and RSF battle over key sites, with 3 UN staff dead Sudan: Army and RSF battle over key sites, with 3 UN staff dead
(32 minutes later)
Watch: What's happened in Sudan in the last 24 hours?Watch: What's happened in Sudan in the last 24 hours?
Watch: What's happened in Sudan in the last 24 hours?Watch: What's happened in Sudan in the last 24 hours?
A power struggle between Sudan's army and a notorious paramilitary force has rocked the country, with 25 reportedly dead and hundreds injured.A power struggle between Sudan's army and a notorious paramilitary force has rocked the country, with 25 reportedly dead and hundreds injured.
Residents dodged gunfire in the capital, Khartoum, as rival forces battled over the presidential palace, state TV and army headquarters. Residents dodged gunfire in the capital, Khartoum, as rival forces battled over the presidential palace, state TV, and army headquarters.
Among the dead are three UN workers, who were shot after the two sides exchanged gunfire at a military base. Among the dead were three UN workers, who were shot after the two sides exchanged gunfire at a military base.
The clashes erupted after tensions over a proposed transition to civilian rule.The clashes erupted after tensions over a proposed transition to civilian rule.
Both the army and its opponents, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), say they control key sites such as the airport. Both the army and its opponents, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), claimed they had control of the airport and other key sites in Khartoum, where fighting continued overnight.
Fighting continued into the night and violence was also reported around the country, including in cities in the Darfur region. The army said jets were hitting RSF bases, and the country's air force told people to remain in their homes on Saturday night while it conducted a full aerial survey of paramilitary activity.
The army says jets are hitting RSF bases, and the country's air force has told people to remain in their homes while it conducts a full aerial survey of paramilitary activity. Residents of Khartoum told the BBC of their panic and fear, with one describing bullets being fired at the house next door.
Violence was also reported elsewhere in the country, including in cities in the Darfur region.
Generals have been running Sudan since a coup in October 2021.
The fighting is between army units loyal to the de facto leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Sudan's deputy leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.The fighting is between army units loyal to the de facto leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Sudan's deputy leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
Gen Dagalo said his troops would keep on fighting until all army bases were captured. Gen Dagalo said his troops would keep fighting until all army bases were captured.
In response, Sudan's armed forces ruled out any possibility of negotiations or dialogue "until the dissolution of the paramilitary RSF", and Gen Burhan ordered the group's disbandment. In response, Sudan's armed forces ruled out negotiations or dialogue "until the dissolution of the paramilitary RSF", and Gen Burhan ordered the group's disbandment.
A simple guide to what's going on in SudanA simple guide to what's going on in Sudan
At least 25 people have been killed and 183 others injured in the violence, the Sudanese Doctors' Union told the Reuters news agency on Saturday evening. It said it did not know how many of the casualties were civilians.At least 25 people have been killed and 183 others injured in the violence, the Sudanese Doctors' Union told the Reuters news agency on Saturday evening. It said it did not know how many of the casualties were civilians.
Earlier, the union said three civilians had been confirmed dead.Earlier, the union said three civilians had been confirmed dead.
A journalist from the Washington Post newspaper reported 30 people dead and nearly 400 injured, citing the UN and local doctors.A journalist from the Washington Post newspaper reported 30 people dead and nearly 400 injured, citing the UN and local doctors.
Three employees for the World Food Programme (WFP), a UN body that delivers food assistance to vulnerable communities, were killed after the RSF paramilitary exchanged gunfire with Sudanese Armed Forces at a military base at Kabkabiya, in the west of the country. Three employees for the World Food Programme (WFP), a UN body that delivers food assistance to vulnerable communities, were killed after the RSF and armed forces exchanged fire at a military base in Kabkabiya, in the west of the country.
Two other staff members were seriously injured and the RSF looted several WFP vehicles. Two other staff members were seriously injured, and the RSF looted several WFP vehicles.
'So much panic and fear'
In Khartoum, people were filmed running away and taking cover as black smoke rose over the city.In Khartoum, people were filmed running away and taking cover as black smoke rose over the city.
A Reuters journalist said there were armoured vehicles in the streets, while video showed a civilian plane ablaze at Khartoum airport. Saudi airline Saudia said one of its Airbuses came under fire.A Reuters journalist said there were armoured vehicles in the streets, while video showed a civilian plane ablaze at Khartoum airport. Saudi airline Saudia said one of its Airbuses came under fire.
Saudia and EgyptAir have suspended flights to Khartoum and neighbouring Chad has closed its border with Sudan.Saudia and EgyptAir have suspended flights to Khartoum and neighbouring Chad has closed its border with Sudan.
Smoke rises above buildings at Khartoum's airport
"We don't have any electricity," a British-Sudanese doctor, who is visiting relatives in Khartoum, told the BBC. "It is hot. We can't afford to open the windows, the noise is deafening.""We don't have any electricity," a British-Sudanese doctor, who is visiting relatives in Khartoum, told the BBC. "It is hot. We can't afford to open the windows, the noise is deafening."
Another eyewitness speaking to the BBC via her Kenya-based sister said: "Shooting is still ongoing and people are staying indoors - there is so much panic and fear."Another eyewitness speaking to the BBC via her Kenya-based sister said: "Shooting is still ongoing and people are staying indoors - there is so much panic and fear."
Residents had not been expecting the clashes, she said, and many had been caught in transit, with bridges and roads closed and many schools in lockdown.Residents had not been expecting the clashes, she said, and many had been caught in transit, with bridges and roads closed and many schools in lockdown.
Duaa Tariq was speaking to the BBC when a military plane flew over her building. "They're shooting live ammunition at the roof of the house next door and we're just now taking shelter," she said.Duaa Tariq was speaking to the BBC when a military plane flew over her building. "They're shooting live ammunition at the roof of the house next door and we're just now taking shelter," she said.
Smoke rises above buildings at Khartoum's airport
The UK, the US and the EU have all called for an immediate end to the fighting. The UN's secretary general has spoken to Gen Burhan and Gen Dagalo, urging them to end the violence.The UK, the US and the EU have all called for an immediate end to the fighting. The UN's secretary general has spoken to Gen Burhan and Gen Dagalo, urging them to end the violence.
US Ambassador John Godfrey 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". US Ambassador John Godfrey said he "woke up to the deeply disturbing sounds of gunfire and fighting", and that he was "sheltering in place with the embassy team, as Sudanese throughout Khartoum and elsewhere are doing".
Russia's embassy was also concerned by the "escalation of violence" and urged a ceasefire, Reuters reports. Russia's embassy was also concerned by the "escalation of violence" and urged a ceasefire, Reuters reported.
The RSF claims control of at least three airports, the army chief's residence and the presidential palace, but Gen Burhan denied this in an interview with al-Jazeera. The RSF on Saturday claimed control of at least three airports, the army chief's residence and the presidential palace, but Gen Burhan denied this in an interview with al-Jazeera.
There are also reports of clashes at the state TV station, which eyewitnesses say is now controlled by the RSF.There are also reports of clashes at the state TV station, which eyewitnesses say is now controlled by the RSF.
Gen Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, told al-Jazeera that Gen Burhan was a "criminal" and would either be killed or "face justice". Top Sudan military figure says coup was a mistake
Earlier, the RSF had said that one of its camps in the south of Khartoum had been attacked. Earlier, the RSF had said that one of its camps in the south of Khartoum had been attacked. And on Saturday evening, Reuters reported that the army launched airstrikes on an RSF base in the north-west of the city, citing eyewitnesses.
For its part, the army has said that RSF fighters have been trying to seize the military headquarters. The army has said that RSF fighters have been attacking army camps and 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," the AFP news agency quoted army spokesman Brig Gen Nabil Abdallah as saying.
"Clashes are ongoing and the army is carrying out its duty to safeguard the country." The Reuters news agency also cited witnesses as saying that there was gunfire in the northern city of Merowe.
The Reuters news agency is also citing witnesses as saying that there was gunfire in the northern city of Merowe.
The RSF released a video that it said showed Egyptian troops who had "surrendered" to them in Merowe. The Egyptian military said its soldiers were in Sudan to conduct exercises with their Sudanese counterparts and that it was co-ordinating with Sudanese authorities to guarantee the safety of its personnel.The RSF released a video that it said showed Egyptian troops who had "surrendered" to them in Merowe. The Egyptian military said its soldiers were in Sudan to conduct exercises with their Sudanese counterparts and that it was co-ordinating with Sudanese authorities to guarantee the safety of its personnel.
Generals have been running the country, through what is called the Sovereign Council, since a coup in October 2021. General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo heads the Rapid Support Forces
Gen Burhan is president of the council, while Hemedti is its vice-president. Generals run Sudan through the Sovereign Council. Gen Burhan is its president, while Hemedti is its vice-president.
But 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. A proposed move to a civilian-led government has foundered on the timetable to integrate the RSF into the army. The RSF wanted to delay it for 10 years, but the army said it should happen in two years.
Hemedti was a key figure in the conflict in Darfur that began in 2003 and has left hundreds of thousands dead.Hemedti was a key figure in the conflict in Darfur that began in 2003 and has left hundreds of thousands dead.
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. Western powers and regional leaders had urged the two sides to de-escalate tensions and go back to talks aimed at restoring civilian rule.
There had been signs on Friday that the situation would be resolved.There had been signs on Friday that the situation would be resolved.
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.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. There have been regular pro-democracy protests in Khartoum since the coup.
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