International

56 killed, hundreds injured as Sudan army and paramilitary clash in power struggle

BY Claire Mom

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Clashes between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, have killed 56 people and left 595 injured.

The tension between the army and the RSF heightened on Saturday after heavy gunfire and explosion were witnessed in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital.

The RSF accused the army of ambushing its forces with heavy weaponry and attacks. The army denied the allegations and said the RSF was trying to seize the military headquarters.

In videos shared online, fighter jets could be seen in the sky amid plumes of smoke rising from Khartoum, Sudan’s capital, as rival forces battled over the presidential palace, state TV, and army headquarters.

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Residents lay on the floor while some ducked in an attempt to dodge gunfire.

There are disagreements over how the RSF should be integrated into the military and what authority should oversee the process.

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The move is part of Sudan’s transition to a civilian-led government.

Mohamed Dagalo, RSF leader, said his troops would keep fighting until all army bases were captured.

In response, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan’s military head, ruled out negotiations “until the dissolution of the paramilitary RSF”.

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