UPDATE 2 – Fighting breaks out in Sudanese capital

UPDATED WITH MORE DETAILS, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Mohammed Amin and Adel Abdel Rahim

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) – Clashes erupted in between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the capital Khartoum.

Gunfire and bombs were heard near the army headquarters and presidential palace, according to an Anadolu reporter in Khartoum.

In a statement, the RSF accused the army of attacking its forces south of Khartoum with light and heavy weapons. The paramilitary force called the army’s action a “brutal assault”, saying it had informed local and international mediators of the developments.

The RSF also claimed that its forces had taken control of Khartoum airport, presidential palace, residence of army chief and Merowe military base in northern Sudan.

For its part, the Sudanese army accused the RSF fighters of attempting to attack its forces south of Khartoum.

“The rebel RSF spreads lies about our forces attacking them, to cover up their rebellious behavior,” the statement said, declaring the paramilitary force a “rebel” group.

The dispute between the two sides came to the surface on Thursday when the army said recent movements by the RSF had happened without coordination and were illegal. Their rift centers around a proposed transition to civilian rule.

Sudan has been without a functioning government since October 2021 when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s transitional government and declared a state of emergency

Last December, Sudan’s military and political forces signed a framework agreement to resolve the months-long crisis.

The signing of the final agreement was scheduled to take place on April 6, but was delayed. No date has been announced for the signing of the deal.

Sudan’s transitional period which started in August 2019 was scheduled to end with elections in early 2024.