NEW DELHI: As tension between a notorious paramilitary force and the country’s army deepens, the Indian embassy in Sudan has asked Indians to take shelter. Visuals from the area showed civilians running for shelter as artillery exchange between forces rocked the streets.
Heavy gunfire was heard in the capital of Sudan, Khartoum, on Saturday as clashes between military leader Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and his number two, paramilitary commander Mohammed Hamdan Daglo opened gunfire on each other’s base. Witnesses reported ‘confrontations’ and loud explosions and gunfire near an RSF base in south Khartoum.
The gunfire follows days of tension between the army and the powerful RSF, which had raised concerns about a confrontation. As per media reports, gunfire has been heard close to the headquarters of the army in the center of the city. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) says it has taken control of the Khartoum airport.
“Fighters from the Rapid Support Forces attacked several army camps in Khartoum and elsewhere around Sudan,” the local news agency is quoting army spokesman Brig Gen Nabil Abdallah.
The tussle between the forces came to the surface on Thursday when the army said recent movements by the RSF had been made without coordination and were illegal.
A statement by the RSF on Saturday called the army’s actions a “brute assault” and called for it to be condemned. It said the RSF had been in contact with local and international mediators to inform them.