Status: 04/16/2023 11:41 a.m
For the second day in a row, the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group RSF have been engaged in heavy fighting. Neither side is willing to negotiate. At least 56 people died as a result of the violence.
The violence between the army in power in Sudan and the paramilitary group “Rapid Support Forces” (RSF), which escalated within hours on Saturday, continued on Sunday. According to consistent reports, further heavy fighting was reported from the capital Khartoum.
As the dpa news agency reported, citing the Sudanese media, the renewed fighting for the general command of the Sudanese army in Khartoum should have intensified. On Saturday evening, the RSF reported that the headquarters had been taken, which the military forces denied as a false claim. In the morning hours, however, the army announced that it was “close to victory” despite the ongoing fighting.
The AP news agency spoke to human rights activist Tahani Abass, who is staying in Khartoum, on Sunday. She reported heavy exchanges of fire, war raging in residential areas. In addition to the fighting for the general command, the fighting was concentrated around the international airport and the headquarters of state television. According to the AP, fighting has also been reported from the city of Omdurman, which borders Khartoum, as well as from the Darfur region and the city of Merowe. However, the information cannot be independently verified.
As reported by the Reuters news agency, the Internet provider MTN blocked its services on Sunday – on government instructions. The agency based its information on the statements of two employees of the group.
In the crisis-ridden country of Sudan, the army and a paramilitary group are engaged in heavy fighting
Tagesschau 12:00 p.m., April 16, 2023
At least 56 civilians killed
At least 56 civilians have been killed in the clashes so far, according to the Central Committee Of Sudan Doctors (CCSD). In addition, there are around 600 injured, including civilian victims, but also fighters from both parties to the conflict. It can be assumed that there will be more deaths on the part of the military and the RSF.
The Foreign Office spoke on Saturday of “heavy armed conflicts” and a confusing situation. The ministry called for “staying in a safe place” and “avoiding driving movements”.
As a precautionary measure, both the airline Saudi Arabian Airlines and the Egyptian state airline Egyptair temporarily suspended their connections to Sudan.
International appeals for an end to the violence
There are increasing calls around the world for an end to the military conflict in Sudan and a return to diplomatic dialogue.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who is currently in Japan for the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, wrote on Twitter that she was “appalled at the many victims” that the fighting in Sudan had already claimed. The Greens politician warned: “Both sides must stop fighting and prevent further bloodshed.”
The UN Security Council called on all parties to the conflict to cease fighting and to start talks to end the crisis. In addition, humanitarian workers must be given safe access and UN employees must be protected from attacks, the most powerful body in the United Nations demanded in the morning. The statement emphasized the goal of “the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Sudan”.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on the parties to the conflict to “immediately cease hostilities, restore calm and initiate dialogue to resolve the current crisis.” The UN special envoy for Sudan, Volker Perthes, made a similar statement.
The military and RSF reject negotiations
This appeal was also joined by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, US Secretary of Defense Antony Blinken, the African Union and the Arab League. Likewise, the countries of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates urged the Sudanese military and RSF to agree on a ceasefire and return to the negotiating table.
But neither side was willing to negotiate on Saturday evening. Instead, the Sudanese ruler and army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, called for the RSF “rebel militia” to be disbanded. In return, their leader, Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, called on al-Burhan to surrender.
Power struggle escalates
The background to the current developments in the country is a power struggle between ruler al-Burhan and his deputy Daglo. Mass protests in 2019 led to the overthrow of decades-long ruler Omar al-Bashir. The regular army and the RSF were involved in this. Since al-Bashir’s fall and another coup against a civilian government that was set up as a result – but in fact controlled by the military – in 2021, the army has been in control of the northeast African country with around 46 million inhabitants. The RSF were also involved in the putsch two years ago.
In the course of the planned transition to a civilian leadership in the country, the paramilitaries were to be integrated into the regular armed forces, which led to tensions. Daglo insinuates that al-Burhan does not want to give up his position as de facto head of state. The RSF claimed on Twitter late Saturday night that they had taken over 90 percent of military-controlled areas in Sudan and invaded the army’s command center. The army rejected this as a lie. It is unclear who currently has the upper hand in the capital.
The power struggle of the generals in Sudan turns into open war
Moritz Behrendt, ARD Cairo, April 16, 2023 5:53 a.m