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17-04-2023
KHARTOUM: Doctors say hundreds of people have also been injured as fighting between the army and paramilitary forces continues for a second day.
The sounds of gunfire and heavy artillery reverberated through Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, for a second day as medics said at least 56 civilians were killed in fighting between the army and powerful paramilitary forces.
Sunday fierce battles came as the United States, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates called on the warring parties to “immediately cease hostilities without preconditions.”
Witnesses told media that the sound of heavy artillery shelling Khartoum, the nearby city of Omdurman and nearby Bahri continued early on Sunday, while media showed plumes of smoke over the capital.
Sudan’s doctors’ union said at least 56 civilians were killed and 595 people, including combatants, were injured after fighting broke out between the military and the Rapid Support Force (RSF) on Saturday.
There were two sides competing for power when political factions negotiate to form a transitional government after a 2021 military coup. Tensions stem from disagreements between the military, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, over how paramilitary groups should be integrated into the armed forces and which body should oversee the process.
Journalist Hiba Morgan, reporting from Khartoum, said the situation in the capital remained tense and civilians were at the center of the fighting.
“It doesn’t look like the situation is de-escalating,” she said late Saturday. “In fact, the army has issued a statement saying it will not negotiate with the Rapid Support Force until the force is disbanded and the insurgent forces are dealt with.”
“We continue to see fighting in Khartoum not far from the presidential palace,” she said.
“We hear shots. We hear the firing of heavy artillery. It is unclear who controls the palace, and battles are raging around state television. The army says it controls its headquarters as well as Khartoum International Airport.’
Global powers USA, Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UN, European Union and African Union, all appealed for the immediate cessation of hostilities. (Int’l Monitoring Desk)
