Power struggle in Sudan – Dozens killed after fierce fighting

Bitter fighting between armed forces and an influential paramilitary group in Sudan has plunged the Northeast African country into a serious state crisis.

Sudanese doctors say dozens have been killed and hundreds injured on Sunday – and the trend is set to continue. More than 24 hours after the fighting began, neither the army nor the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were able to gain the upper hand on Sunday afternoon. Both sides reported individual successes and captured military bases. However, most of the information could not be independently verified.

The UN Security Council, in rare unison, called on all parties to the conflict to end the bloodshed and begin talks to end the crisis. In addition, humanitarian aid workers must be given safe access and UN employees must be protected, the most powerful body of the United Nations demanded. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, EU High Representative Josep Borrell and Secretary of State Annalena Baerbock also called for an immediate end to the violence in Sudan.

The construction of the main military command in the capital Khartoum was particularly hard on Sunday, parts of which caught fire. The RSF said they have certain parts of the headquarters under control. The Sudanese army dismissed this as a hoax. Instead, the military said the fire was extinguished. There were no injuries. However, eyewitnesses report that the fighting there continues unabated. Heavy artillery and fighter jets would have been used. Fighting is also said to have broken out in other parts of the country, such as Darfur and the provinces of North Kordofan. Heavy fighting was also reported from the town of Merowe in the north of the country.

The outbreak of violence was prompted by a bitter power struggle between the Sudanese ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, the leader of the RSF. The conflict in the country of 46 million people escalated on Saturday, with fierce fighting breaking out within hours. Artillery fire was reported from Khartoum, among other things, and there were also reports of airstrikes by the Sudanese air force against RSF bases. It is unclear who currently has the upper hand in Khartoum.

65 civilian casualties and 600 wounded

A Sudanese medical organization said on Twitter on Sunday morning that at least 56 civilians and dozens of soldiers were killed. In addition, almost 600 injured people were counted in hospitals and other care centers, dozens of whom were in danger of dying.

Since the overthrow of longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and another coup against a civilian government set up as a result – but effectively controlled by the military – in 2021, the military has been in control of Sudan. The RSF and the Sudanese military had worked hand-in-hand in both takeovers. As part of the transition to civilian rule scheduled for April, the paramilitaries were to be incorporated into the armed forces. This led to a power struggle between the former Allies. Daglo accused al-Burhan of not wanting to relinquish his position as de facto head of state and of holding on to power contrary to all agreements. The RSF claimed on Twitter late Saturday night that 90 percent of Sudan’s militarily controlled areas had been captured and infiltrated the army command center. The military also rejected this as a false claim.

The escalation of violence caused concern around the world. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on the parties to the conflict “to immediately cease hostilities, restore calm and initiate dialogue to resolve the current crisis”. Guterres spoke to RSF General Daglo on the phone Saturday. Foreign Minister Baerbock also called for an end to violence in Sudan. “Both sides must stop fighting and prevent further bloodshed,” the Greens politician said on Twitter on Sunday. She was “shocked by the many casualties” and supported efforts to negotiate a ceasefire.

Little hope for a quick end to the violence

Opponents’ rhetoric, on the other hand, gave little hope for a quick end to the violence: Al-Burhan accused the RSF of attacks on strategic targets and his home in an interview with Al-Jazeera television on Saturday. . RSF leader Daglo called for al-Burhan and his allies to be brought to justice. His rival is responsible for the conflict and will be captured “or die like a dog,” Daglo told Al-Jazeera. The military released a statement on Facebook saying that there would be no negotiations with the RSF and that the group should disband.

The RSF had mobilized their units a few days ago after the army again postponed the appointment of a prime minister and thus the transfer of power. Observers interpreted the mobilization as a threatening gesture by Daglo against the commander-in-chief al-Burhan. Most recently, Daglo had called for a swift transition to civilian rule, against al-Burhan.

The RSF was founded in 2013 from militias in the western state of Darfur. During the decades-long conflict there, they were seen as ruthless supporters of the Arab-dominated government, which used violence against the African minority. The group and its leader, Daglo, are accused of mass rape and other gross human rights violations. After the overthrow of ruler al-Bashir in 2019, Daglo was considered the most powerful man in Sudan. However, the affairs of state were taken over by al-Burhan, the Inspector General of the Armed Forces. Daglo later became al-Burhan’s deputy on the ruling transitional council. (cst/sda/dpa)