More than 600 people are said to have been injured in the fighting between the country’s armed forces and paramilitary RSF forces.
In Sudan, which is located in North Africa, violence between two military forces has spread throughout the country, international news agencies report.
According to a Sudanese medical group, at least 56 civilians have died and more than 600 people have been injured in the clashes over the weekend.
In addition to the capital Khartoum, battles have taken place in the western parts of the country in Nyala and El-Fasher, in the south in El-Obeid and in the north in Merowe. There has also been violence in Port Sudan, located on the shores of the Red Sea, reports the Reuters news agency.
The fighting started on Saturday and has continued at least until Sunday morning.
Opposite in Sudan are the country’s army and paramilitary RSF forces. These are former allies who derailed the president from power Omar Hassan al-Bashir in 2019.
Disagreements about the unification of the armed forces
Relations between the fighting forces have been tense for a long time.
by the commander of the Sudanese army By Abdel Fattah al-Burhan there have been disagreements with the commander of the RSF forces Mohamed Hamdan Dagalon with how the RSF will be integrated into the armed forces and who will lead this process.
The strength of the RSF forces is estimated to be around 100,000 men, the news agency Reuters writes.
Now both sides accuse the other of starting the violence.
Late on Saturday, the Sudanese army announced that it was no longer negotiating with the RSF forces. The army characterized the group as a “rebel group” that must be disbanded.
The leader of the RSF forces, on the other hand, called the army a criminal, the news agency AP reported.
Information about the progress of the fighting is conflicting. On Saturday, RSF forces claimed to have captured the presidential palace in Khartoum and taken control of numerous air and military bases around the country.
According to the Sudanese army, all important targets are still under their control.
International pressure is increasing
Secretary General of the UN Antonio Guterres has called on the parties to stop the fighting immediately.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that he discussed the situation in Sudan with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
– We agree that it is important for the parties to stop the violence immediately without any preconditions, Blinken commented according to the news agency AP.
Similar appeals have also been heard from the EU, France, Iran and Russia.
Sources: AP, Reuters, AFP