Africa
Gunfire, Blasts Rock Sudan’s Capital As Paramilitary Group Claims Control Of Presidential Palace
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The military has been in charge of Sudan since a coup in 2021.
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Talks were underway on integrating the country’s top paramilitary group into the army as part of the move towards the return of civilian rule.
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However, they have been complicated by fighting between military and paramilitary forces.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Sudanese paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), claims that it has taken control of Sudan’s Presidential Palace, as tensions between the force and the army erupted into violence.
Photos showing heavy fighting around the Presidential Palace and Army Headquarters in the capital Khartoum circulated on social media on Saturday morning.
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A Reuters journalist saw cannon and armoured vehicles deployed in streets, and heard the sound of heavy weapons fire near the headquarters of both the army and RSF.
In a statement, the RSF also claimed control of airports in Khartoum, Marwa and al-Abiad. Flights have been suspended inbound and outbound from the airport in Khartoum.
The RSF said they were responding to a surprise attack from the army on one of their bases.
RSF forces at the airport in Khartoum
Sudan’s Armed Forces Command said in a statement that it was fighting the RSF in Khartoum, accusing the group of “traitorous plotting” against the country.
The US ambassador to Sudan said he was sheltering amid the clashes in the capital.
“I just arrived late last night in Khartoum and woke up to the deeply disturbing sounds of gunfire and fighting,” Ambassador John Godfrey wrote on Twitter.
He called on senior military leaders to stop the fighting.
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“Escalation of tensions within the military component to direct fighting is extremely dangerous. I urgently call on senior military leaders to stop the fighting,” the diplomat said.
Escalation of tensions within the military component to direct fighting is extremely dangerous. I urgently call on senior military leaders to stop the fighting. (2/2)
— USAMBSudan (@USAMBSudan) April 15, 2023
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