This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-65284948
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Sudan fighting: The military rivalry behind the clashes in Khartoum | Sudan fighting: The military rivalry behind the clashes in Khartoum |
| (about 5 hours 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? |
| The fighting that has erupted in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere in the country is a direct result of a vicious power struggle within the country's military leadership. | The fighting that has erupted in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere in the country is a direct result of a vicious power struggle within the country's military leadership. |
| There are clashes at key strategic places across the capital as members of a paramilitary force - Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - and regular soldiers fight. | There are clashes at key strategic places across the capital as members of a paramilitary force - Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - and regular soldiers fight. |
| Here is what you need to know. | Here is what you need to know. |
| Dozens dead as power struggle rocks Sudan | |
| What's the background to the fighting? | What's the background to the fighting? |
| Since a coup in October 2021, Sudan has been run by a council of generals and there are two military men at the centre of the dispute. | Since a coup in October 2021, Sudan has been run by a council of generals and there are two military men at the centre of the dispute. |
| Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who is the head of the armed forces and in effect the country's president. | Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who is the head of the armed forces and in effect the country's president. |
| And his deputy and leader of the RSF, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti. | And his deputy and leader of the RSF, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti. |
| They have disagreed on the direction the country is going in and the proposed move towards civilian rule. | They have disagreed on the direction the country is going in and the proposed move towards civilian rule. |
| One of the main sticking points is over the plans to include the 100,000-strong RSF into the army and who would then lead the new force. | One of the main sticking points is over the plans to include the 100,000-strong RSF into the army and who would then lead the new force. |
| Why did it all kick off on Saturday? | Why did it all kick off on Saturday? |
| The violence follows days of tension as members of the RSF were redeployed around the country in a move that the army saw as a threat. | The violence follows days of tension as members of the RSF were redeployed around the country in a move that the army saw as a threat. |
| There had been some hope that talks could resolve the situation but these never happened. | There had been some hope that talks could resolve the situation but these never happened. |
| It is not clear who fired the first shot on Saturday morning but there are fears that this will worsen an already unstable situation. | It is not clear who fired the first shot on Saturday morning but there are fears that this will worsen an already unstable situation. |
| Diplomats have urged the two sides to cease fire. | Diplomats have urged the two sides to cease fire. |
| Who are the Rapid Support Forces? | Who are the Rapid Support Forces? |
| The RSF was formed in 2013 and has its origins in the notorious Janjaweed militia that brutally fought off rebels in Darfur. | The RSF was formed in 2013 and has its origins in the notorious Janjaweed militia that brutally fought off rebels in Darfur. |
| Since then, Gen Dagalo has built a powerful force that has intervened in conflicts in Yemen and Libya and controls some of Sudan's gold mines. | Since then, Gen Dagalo has built a powerful force that has intervened in conflicts in Yemen and Libya and controls some of Sudan's gold mines. |
| Rivalry between Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (pictured) and Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is at the heart of the problem | Rivalry between Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (pictured) and Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is at the heart of the problem |
| It has also been accused of human rights abuses, including the massacre of more than 120 protesters in June 2019. | It has also been accused of human rights abuses, including the massacre of more than 120 protesters in June 2019. |
| Such a strong force outside the army has been seen as a source of instability in the country. | Such a strong force outside the army has been seen as a source of instability in the country. |
| Why is the military in charge? | Why is the military in charge? |
| This fighting is the latest episode in bouts of tension that followed the ousting of long-serving President Omar al-Bashir in 2019. | This fighting is the latest episode in bouts of tension that followed the ousting of long-serving President Omar al-Bashir in 2019. |
| There were huge street protests calling for an end to his near-three decade rule and the army mounted a coup to get rid of him. | There were huge street protests calling for an end to his near-three decade rule and the army mounted a coup to get rid of him. |
| But the civilians continued to demand a role in the plan to move towards democratic rule. | But the civilians continued to demand a role in the plan to move towards democratic rule. |
| A joint military-civilian government was then established but that was overthrown in another coup in October 2021. | A joint military-civilian government was then established but that was overthrown in another coup in October 2021. |
| And since then the rivalry between Gen Burhan and Gen Dagalo has intensified. | And since then the rivalry between Gen Burhan and Gen Dagalo has intensified. |
| A framework deal to put power back in the hands of civilians was agreed last December but talks to finalise the details have failed. | A framework deal to put power back in the hands of civilians was agreed last December but talks to finalise the details have failed. |
| What could happen now? | What could happen now? |
| If the fighting continues then it could further fragment the country and worsen political turbulence. | If the fighting continues then it could further fragment the country and worsen political turbulence. |
| Diplomats, who have played a crucial role in trying to urge a return to civilian rule, will be desperate to find a way to get the two generals to talk. | Diplomats, who have played a crucial role in trying to urge a return to civilian rule, will be desperate to find a way to get the two generals to talk. |
| In the meantime, it will be the ordinary Sudanese who will have to live through yet another period of uncertainty. | In the meantime, it will be the ordinary Sudanese who will have to live through yet another period of uncertainty. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Sudan | Sudan |