Fighting has broken out in Khartoum between the Sudanese army and a powerful paramilitary group that claims to have taken control of the presidential palace and the international airport.
Clashes flared between the Sudanese military and the powerful Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary, with contradicting claims of controlling key facilities in what appears to be an attempted power takeover.
The military, led by army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said in a statement it had gained control over RSF leadership "without resistance." It claimed the paramilitaries said they did not want to be "used to achieve their leadership's personal goals and ambitions."
Sudanese air forces struck RSF bases, chasing after paramilitaries, the armed forces said in a statement.
"We warn our citizens to steer clear of neighborhood streets and not shelter fugitives," it said.
Clashes also reportedly extended to El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.
The RSF had claimed in a statement to have taken control of the Republican Palace and Khartoum's international airport and "arrested" those who attacked its base. The paramilitary also said it took over the Merowe airport and base north of the capital.
The Sudanese army described the paramilitary's statements as "lies," declaring the RSF a "rebel force." The General Intelligence said claims of RSF control over Burhan's residence were false.
Local media reported military forces were blocking entrances to the palace and surrounding the building of state TV.
A TV anchor briefly appeared to say there were clashes inside the building, with gunshots heard in the background, the Reuters news agency reported.
Reports also suggested flights from Khartoum airports were suspended, with many flights sent back.
Exchanging accusations of attacks
The violence started early on Saturday with the Sudanese army accusing the RSF paramilitaries of attacking its bases in Khartoum and elsewhere.
"Clashes are ongoing and the army is carrying out its duty to safeguard the country," army spokesman Brigadier General Nabil Abdallah told AFP.
The RSF had earlier accused in a statement military forces of attacking its base with "all kinds of light and heavy arms."
"The Rapid Support Forces were surprised Saturday with a large force from the army entering camps in Soba in Khartoum and laying siege to paramilitaries there," the RSF said.
Unverified videos on Twitter showed what was identified as RSF forces on the runway of Khartoum airport.
A rift has been widening between Burhan, who led a military coup in 2021, and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, among Sudan's most powerful men.
A top army general accused the RSF on Thursday of deploying forces across the country without the army's consent, warning of potential clashes in a rare televised speech.
The paramilitary force, which had deployed troops near the northern town of Merowe, defended the presence of its forces.
An unverified video circulated on social media showing fighters identified as RSF paramilitaries claiming control over Merowe's military airport. Merowe lies some 330 kilometers north of Khartoum.
Calls for ending the fighting
The US embassy in Khartoum said it ordered its staff as well as American citizens in the country to "shelter in place." The UK embassy also issued a similar call, saying it was closely monitoring the situation.
US Ambassador John Godfrey said he was woken up "to the deeply disturbing sounds of gunfire and fighting."
"Escalation of tensions within the military component to direct fighting is extremely dangerous," Godfrey said, calling on senior military leaders to cease fighting.
Russia's embassy in Khartoum also express its concern due to the "escalation of violence."
It called on the fighting parties to cease fire.
Why have tensions flared recently?
The crisis between the military and the RSF escalated after both forces failed to reach an agreement over restructuring the military, seen as a prerequisite before forming a civilian government.
The agreement to launch a new transition toward elections that would bring the country back on a civilian track after the October 2021 coup was initially reached late last year.
Reports have suggested the deadlock is due to disagreements between Burhan and Daglo over how the RSF should be integrated into the military.
The RSF emerged from the Janjaweed militia, which Sudan's then-president, Omar al Bashir, leaned on in his crackdown on the western Darfur region in the early 2000s. The militia is accused of committing war crimes against Darfur's non-Arab rebels.
However, Bashir's 2019 ouster did not eliminate the RSF. Its current leader, Daglo, was among the most powerful figures in post-Bashir Sudan.
