Dozens of civilians dead as power struggle rocks Sudan
More than 50 people have been reported dead in Sudan as a result of clashes between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group.Â
The fighting erupted over a disagreement regarding the proposed transition to civilian rule.
Both the army and the RSF claimed to have control of the airport and other key sites in the capital city of Khartoum, where heavy gunfire was reported.
Witnesses also reported violence in other cities, including Port Sudan. Panic and fear were reported by residents, who spoke of bullets being fired at nearby homes.
The Sudanese doctors’ committee said at least 56 civilians have been killed, along with dozens of military personnel, and over 595 people injured. Three employees of the World Food Programme were also killed.
Generals have been running Sudan since a coup in October 2021. The fighting 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, also known as Hemedti. The military has ruled out negotiations “until the dissolution of the paramilitary RSF”.
