Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, has been rocked by deadly clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a notorious paramilitary force. At least three civilians have been confirmed dead in the power struggle, with residents dodging gunfire as rival forces battled over the presidential palace, state TV, and army headquarters. The fighting erupted after tensions over a proposed transition to civilian rule, with battles also reported elsewhere in the country, including cities in the Darfur region.
The conflict 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 has stated that his troops will continue fighting until all army bases are captured, while Sudan’s armed forces have ruled out any possibility of negotiations or dialogue “until the dissolution of the paramilitary RSF.”
Eyewitnesses reported armoured vehicles in the streets, with video footage showing a civilian plane ablaze at Khartoum airport. Both Saudia and EgyptAir have suspended flights to Khartoum, and neighbouring Chad has closed its border with Sudan. Schools have been placed on lockdown, and many residents have been caught in transit with bridges and roads closed.
International leaders have called for an immediate end to the fighting, with the US, UK, and EU all issuing statements. The situation remains tense, with gunfire continuing and many people staying indoors due to panic and fear.
Generals have been running Sudan since a coup in October 2021, with Gen Burhan as president of the Sovereign Council and Hemedti as its vice-president. The proposed move to a civilian-led government has foundered on the timetable to integrate the RSF into the national army, with the RSF wanting to delay it for 10 years and the army pushing for two years.
The conflict highlights ongoing tensions between military and civilian leadership in Sudan, with pro-democracy protests continuing in Khartoum since the 2021 coup that ended a period of shared power between military and civilian leaders following the overthrow of long-term authoritarian President Omar al-Bashir. Western powers and regional leaders have urged the two sides to de-escalate tensions and return to talks aimed at restoring civilian rule.
