After several days of conflict between a notorious paramilitary group and the army of the nation, gunfire and explosions have been heard in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.
 |
| Image Source - Google | Image by <br><a href= BBC News |
By Mehran Mazari
The main point of contention is a suggested switch to civilian control.
According to Reuters, gunfire has been heard nearby the army headquarters in the city's core.
The airport and presidential palace, according to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), are now under its control.
These assertions have not been proven.
The RSF had earlier claimed that one of its camps in Khartoum's south had been targeted.
The army has said that RSF fighters have been attempting to take control of the military headquarters.
According to Brig Gen Nabil Abdallah of the army, "fighters from the Rapid Support Forces attacked several army camps in Khartoum and elsewhere around Sudan," according to the AFP news agency.
"Clashes are still going on, and the army is doing what it is supposed to do to protect the nation."
There was a shooting in the northern city of Merowe, according to witnesses, according to the Reuters news agency.
According to Reuters, Alarabyia TV is showing footage of smoke rising from a nearby military barracks.
Since a coup in October 2021, generals have been in charge of the country through a body known as the Sovereign Council.
The vice-president of the council, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, is in charge of the RSF. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the Sovereign Council, is in charge of the army.
A plan to transition to a civilian-led government has failed due to delays in RSF integration into the national army.
The army claimed it should happen in two years while the RSF wanted to put it off for ten.
As tensions rose this week, the RSF moved troops close to the Merowe military base on Thursday.
In order to settle the disagreement over who would be in charge of a unified army under a planned civilian administration, Gen. Burhan stated that he was ready to speak with his second in command.
The two sides had been urged to de-escalate hostilities and return to negotiations aimed at restoring civilian authority by Western powers and regional leaders.
On Friday, there had been indications that the matter might be resolved.
US Ambassador John Godfrey tweeted, "I urgently call on senior military leaders to stop the fighting."
He stated he "woke up to the deeply disturbing sounds of gunfire and fighting," which he used to describe the scenario in the city. Along with the Embassy team, I am currently taking refuge in my home as other Sudanese are doing in Khartoum and abroad.
According to Reuters, the Russian embassy has called for an end to the "escalation of violence" and expressed alarm about it.
A more than a two-year period of power-sharing between military and civilian officials came to an end in the coup of 2021. After Omar al-Bashir, Sudan's long-time authoritarian president, was toppled, that agreement was reached.
Since the coup, there have been frequent pro-democracy demonstrations in Khartoum.
