In Sudan, fighting has broken out in several parts of the country amid a power struggle between the army and a major paramilitary group.
Airlines from Saudi Arabia and Egypt want to suspend their flights to the country for the time being.
Where are the fights?
In the capital Khartoum, continuous gunfire and explosions were heard in several neighborhoods since Saturday morning, including at the airport and near the presidential palace in the north of the city.
There also seemed to be fighting in the south of the city. There is the headquarters of the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which would be integrated into the state army. At least three people have been killed in Khartoum. According to media reports, fighting also broke out in the states of White Nile and North Darfur.
The RSF said Sudanese soldiers entered their headquarters on Saturday morning. According to reports and eyewitnesses, RSF forces attacked Khartoum airport. The RSF initially reported that they had taken control of the presidential palace and airport. However, the Sudanese army contradicted this on Twitter.
The information provided by both parties could initially not be independently confirmed. The Luftwaffe attacked RSF bases. According to eyewitnesses, at least two tanks were deployed in Khartoum.
US Ambassador to Sudan John Godfrey confirmed on Twitter that gunfire and fighting were heard in Khartoum. He warned that escalating tensions between military units were “extremely dangerous”. The embassy called on its staff and US citizens in Sudan not to leave their homes.
Why have airlines suspended their flights?
Due to the fierce fighting in Sudan, airlines from Saudi Arabia and Egypt want to suspend their flights to the country for the time being.
Saudi Arabian airlines After an incident at Khartoum airport, all connections to and from Sudan have been suspended until further notice, the airline announced on Saturday. According to the company, one of its machines – carrying passengers and crew – was damaged by gunfire before the morning departure. There were no reports of injuries. It was initially unclear who fired the shots.
“Flights to and from Sudan have been suspended to ensure the safety of guests and crew,” the airline said. She initially spoke of an “accident”.
The Egyptian state airline Egyptair announced it would suspend all flight connections to and from Khartoum for 72 hours due to the security situation in the neighboring country.
What are the reactions from international politics?
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called for an end to the violence given the fierce fighting. “We urge all involved to immediately stop the violence and prevent further escalations or troop mobilizations and to continue talks to resolve outstanding issues,” Blinken tweeted on Saturday.
The US government is “deeply concerned” about the violence and is in contact with the US embassy in the Sudanese capital Khartoum. The embassy had previously called on its staff and US citizens not to leave their homes.
The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke of “heavily armed conflicts” that also affected Khartoum airport. Flight operations were apparently suspended there, it said. The situation is unclear. “Stay in a safe place and avoid all driving movements,” the ministry warned.
The United Nations Special Representative in Sudan, Volker Perthes, called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Both sides must ensure the security of the Sudanese people and refrain from further violence. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also called for an immediate end to the violence. “An escalation will only make the situation worse,” he warned on Twitter. The safety of citizens is paramount. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also called for dialogue and an end to the violence. He follows the events closely, he writes on Twitter.
What is the background to the coup attempt?
The background is a power struggle between the army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitaries, who were supposed to be integrated into the armed forces. This is an important part of the political transition process that has been going on for years and must end in democratic elections.
Since the fall of longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in April 2019, the army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has controlled the country. The army and RSF led by leader Mohammed Hamdan Daglo had jointly taken back power in the fall of 2021, but tensions between the two military leaders have risen in recent months.
The dispute is delaying the transition to civilian rule promised by ruler al-Burhan. An escalation led to fears of violent clashes that could lead to civil war.
Only on Thursday did the Sudanese army warn against mobilizing the RSF. Observers saw the mobilization as a threatening gesture against the rulers and commander-in-chief al-Burhan.
Most recently, Daglo surprisingly spoke out in favor of a swift transition to civilian rule, opposing al-Burhan.
According to the original plans, al-Burhan should have withdrawn from the caretaker government by 2021 at the latest and the country should be run by civilians. Instead, the army seized power again and indefinitely postponed democratic elections.
This week, the military postponed the appointment of a new prime minister and again postponed the transfer of power.
About 46 million people live in the Northeast African country.
(dsc/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
