In Sudan, armed clashes between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have left at least 56 civilians dead and several hundred wounded, while dozens of uniformed personnel have also died. The clashes began on Saturday in the capital, Khartoum, and spread to the outskirts of the city and other areas of the country, continuing on Sunday. The UN and other countries, including the US, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, have called for a cessation of hostilities amid fears that the conflict could escalate.
As of Sunday morning, fighting had left around 30 civilians and 13 military personnel dead, as well as more than 400 wounded, in the capital. A further 25 deaths have been reported in other states across the country, but the situation is difficult to track. The Rapid Support Forces claimed to be in control of several strategic points in the country, including the general command of the army and the headquarters of state television, and that they controlled air navigation throughout the country as well as the whereabouts of three high-ranking members of the Armed Forces.
The army, however, denied that it had lost control of these locations. Sudan has been mired in a highly unstable situation since October 2021, when the army and the Rapid Support Forces executed a coup that ended the transition launched in the country after dictator Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in 2019. Since then, Sudan has faced a severe economic crisis, internal violence, and diplomatic isolation.
The rivalry between the two groups stems from historical grievances, power struggles, and the exploitation of the country’s wealth, and their alliance has become increasingly untenable.