SUDAN COUP ATTEMPT: ARMY & PARAMILITARIES BATTLE OVER KEY SITES

Read Time:1 Minute, 33 Second

In what looks to be a coup attempt, clashes broke out on Saturday in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, between the military and the powerful Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary.

Three civilians were reported dead and at least nine more injured in the violence, according to the nation’s doctors’ union.

In April 2019, the Sudanese military, under the command of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, deposed longtime leader Omar al-Bashir. A second coup was staged by the military and the RSF eighteen months later, upsetting the democratic transition.

The military hierarchy and the paramilitary force agreed to share control, but tensions have grown over the past few months.

There seems to be a conflicting information coming out the two sides. RSF claims that its forces have taken over the presidential palace, the international airport in Khartoum, as well as a military camp north of the capital.

The country’s military, however, refuted those claims, maintaining that it had taken control of the RSF leadership “without resistance” and had attacked RSF bases while on the hunt for paramilitary units.

The military claimed that RSF attempted to seize control of key locations, including the palace, but denied that they were successful.

According to the army, violence started when RSF soldiers attempted to strike its troops in the southern part of the capital.

According to reports, the violence caused the suspension of flights from Khartoum airports and the return of several aircraft.

Videos posted to Twitter appeared to show RSF troops on the international airport’s runway.

State-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines said one of its aircraft “had an accident” before its scheduled departure to Riyadh on Saturday, without providing further details.

The airline said its flights to and from Sudan had been suspended until further notice.

Another plane — belonging to a Ukrainian carrier — appeared to have caught fire in the attack, According to reports.