2023 Sudan clashes

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2023 Sudan clashes
Part of the Sudanese transition to democracy
2023 Sudan clashes.svg
Date15-16 April 2023
Location
Khartoum and other strategic cities in Sudan
Status

Ongoing

  • Disputed control of key government sites
Belligerents

Sudanese Armed Forces

Rapid Support Forces
Commanders and leaders
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo
Casualties and losses
At least 27 killed and 183 injured.[1] [2]

On 15 April 2023, clashes broke out across Sudan, particularly in the capital city of Khartoum, between rival factions of the country's ruling military. The clashes began when the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces launched attacks on key government sites. Explosions and gunfire were reported across Khartoum. RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo claimed control of most government sites including the state TV headquarters, the Presidential Palace, Khartoum International Airport, and the Army chief's official residence, though de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan denied losing control of these sites.[3][4][5][6]

Reuters referred to the clashes as an apparent coup attempt.[7]

Background

Main article: 2019–2026 Sudanese transition to democracy

The history of conflict in Sudan between the north and south has been long and complex, with factors such as ethnic tensions, religious disputes, and competition over resources fueling the violence.[8][9] This conflict dates back to the period of colonization and Islamization of the region and continued through the various regimes that followed, including Ottoman Egyptian Sudan, the Mahdist State, and Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.[10] Land and water usage has been a major driver of conflict in Sudan, particularly between sedentary farmers and nomadic pastoralists.[10] Agriculture is a significant sector in Sudan's economy, employing over 40% of the workforce and providing a third of the country's GDP.[11]

Former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir presided over a devastating conflict in the south of the country, which ultimately led to the secession of South Sudan in 2011.[12] He also oversaw state-sponsored violence in the western region of Darfur, leading to charges of war crimes and genocide.[13] Key figures in the Darfur conflict included Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo, who served as a commander in the Rapid Support Forces.[14] In 2019, a revolution ousted al-Bashir, and an interim unity government headed by Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok was established.[13] However, in October 2021, the military seized power in a coup and agreed to hand over authority to a civilian-led government, with a formal agreement scheduled for 6 April 2023.[15]

However, the agreement was delayed due to tensions between rival military leaders, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who serve as chairman and deputy of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, respectively.[16] One issue of contention is the RSF's insistence on a ten-year timetable for its integration into the regular army, while the regular army demands it be done in two years.[14]

The RSF is a paramilitary organization with roots in Janjaweed militias that operated during the Darfur War.[12] It was formally created by Bashir in 2013 and was led by Dagalo and overseen directly by Bashir.[17] They gained notoriety for their crackdown on pro-democracy protestors during the Khartoum massacre in June 2019.[12] The Bashir regime allowed several armed groups, including the RSF, to proliferate to prevent threats to its security from within the armed forces.[18] The RSF and Dagalo's consolidation of power went hand in hand with a rapid accumulation of wealth, with the paramilitary chief seizing key gold mining locations in Darfur and intervening on behalf of Saudi-led coalition forces during the Yemeni Civil War and colluding with the Wagner Group to fund the Russian war effort in Ukraine through gold smuggling. This led to RSF forces growing rapidly into the tens of thousands, including thousands of armed pickup trucks, which regularly patrolled the streets of Khartoum.[17]

Sudan has been ruled by a military junta since the 2021 coup d'état.[3] Sudanese Armed Forces leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo were both leaders in the coup. However, as al-Burhan, who leads the junta, has monopolized power, Dagalo has expressed regret over the coup.[19] The Rapid Support Forces began their mobilization on 13 April 2023, raising fears of a rebellion against the junta. The Sudanese Armed Forces said the mobilization was illegal.[20]

Events

Prelude

On 11 April 2023, RSF forces deployed near the city of Merowe and in Khartoum.[21] Government forces ordered them to leave, but they refused, leading to clashes when RSF forces took control of the Soba military base south of Khartoum.[21]

15 April 2023

On 15 April 2023, fighters from the Rapid Support Forces attacked several army camps in Khartoum and elsewhere in Sudan. Gunfire was also heard in Merowe.[14] Clashes have also spread to Jabra, Kafouri, and Shambat neighborhoods in Khartoum.[22] RSF forces claimed to have captured Merowe airport and military base, Khartoum airport as well as Soba base inflicting casualties on armed forces. Shooting was reportedly heard near the General Command and al-Burhan's residence. RSF forces reinforced their positions on the airport while government forces deployed armored vehicles near the presidential palace. RSF claimed to have captured the Presidential Palace, El Obeid Airport, Guest House and other sites in the country.[23] The presence of armed forces was reported in Omdurman.[24]

The armed forces claimed to have repelled an attack on Khartoum Sports City Stadium. Clashes were ongoing at White Nile bridge in Khartoum. The military closed all airports in the country and shelled Nyala Airport.[25] The armed forces also denied RSF claims about the capture of al-Burhan's residence.[23] Clashes were reported in the satellite city of Omdurman using heavy weapons.[26] The Sudanese Air Force was reportedly heavily involved in the clashes bombing rebel positions. Artillery fire was heard in different parts of the city.[27] Clashes also erupted in the capital of North Darfur state, Al-Fashir.[28] The armed forces claimed that rebel forces burned two civilian planes at the airport.[clarification needed] They also reportedly conducted airstrikes on rebel bases in Taiba and Soba.[23][5] Colonel Khaled Abdullah of the Sudanese Armed Forces said that 80 RSF-operated vehicles were destroyed and that the RSF's threats within Khartoum had been lessened. Clashes were reported at the headquarters of the state broadcaster Sudan TV.[29] The channel halted a news bulletin after the presenter began reading an item about the situation in Khartoum and switched programming to music.[30] Local eyewitnesses and Al-Arabiya later reported that Sudan TV's headquarters was captured by RSF forces.[14][31] Bridges and roads in Khartoum have been closed and checkpoints are beginning to be set up.[32]

At 13:30 (CAT), the Sudanese Armed Forces claimed that the commander of the RSF forces in the White Nile state surrendered, and have also claimed that the camps of Taiba and Soba have been "destroyed".[33][34] At Khartoum International Airport, multiple aircraft belonging to Saudia, Badr Airlines, and SkyUp Airlines among others were reported to be damaged according to Flightradar24.[35] Saudia later confirmed that one of its aircraft came under fire before takeoff at the airport and that it had evacuated all passengers, crew and staff to the Saudi embassy.[18] It along with EgyptAir also suspended all flights to and from Sudan.[18] Chad closed its border with Sudan.[14]

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the Rapid Support Forces, accused Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of forcing the RSF to begin confrontations and accused SAF commanders of scheming to bring deposed leader Omar al-Bashir back to power.[36] Al-Burhan returned these accusations, and was quoted as saying that he was "shocked that they attacked [my] house at nine in the morning", while also stating that the Presidential Palace and other government facilities are under SAF control.[36] In Al-Fashir, heavy clashes were ongoing using light and heavy weapons with rebel forces trying to capture the airport and other buildings. Shops were closed and streets emptied.[37] At 14:30 (CAT), the Sudanese Armed Forces declared that they took over control of an RSF camp at Marwi, Omdurman.[36] Clashes involving heavy weapons were also reported in South and Central Khartoum, leading to renewed clashes in the vicinity of the Presidential Palace.[36] Heavy clashes were ongoing at the Sport Center stadium and Air Force Department.[36]

Clashes were also reported in the coastal city of Port Sudan[38] and Zalingei in Central Darfur.[39] RSF forces claimed to have captured the airport, Signal Corps and Medical Corps headquarters in Al-Fashir.[36] At 14:43 GMT al-Burhan claimed that the army was in control of the presidential palace, the military headquarters and Khartoum International Airport.[18] At 17:00 (CAT) RSF forces claimed, via Twitter, to have taken several Egyptian troops prisoner near Merowe.[40][41] Initially, no official explanation was given for the Egyptian soldiers' presence, although Egypt and Sudan have had extensive military cooperation due to diplomatic tensions with Ethiopia.[42] Later on, the Egyptian Armed Forces said its soldiers were in Sudan to conduct exercises with the Sudanese military.[14] Around that time, the army reportedly encircled RSF forces in Merowe airbase. As a result, the Egyptian Armed Forces announced that it was following the situation as a precaution for the safety of their personnel according to SAF Colonel Gharib Abdel Hafez.[36][43] Armed forces claimed that RSF forces in Gedaref and Kassala states surrendered.[36] At around 18:00 (CAT), the RSF claimed that all roads heading south of Khartoum have been closed. The Sudanese Air Force have also refuted claims from the RSF relating to the neutralisation of SAF aircraft.[36]

At 18:50 (CAT) the Sudanese Armed Forces' media representative told Al Jazeera that retired veterans have joined the SAF's fight against the RSF. Clashes also reportedly resumed in Khartoum after Iftar. The military claimed to have captured Nyala after clashes and that RSF forces have surrendered in Port Sudan and Kosti.[36]

The Sudanese Army accused the RSF of "traitorous plotting" against the country and said the RSF would be dissolved without discussion. It labeled Dagalo a criminal and issued a wanted poster for him. The Army said it would conduct sweeps for Rapid Support Forces and urged civilians to stay inside. The Khartoum State Security Committee declared a public holiday in the city for 16 April "in order to preserve lives of citizens and their property".[3]

Casualties

Multiple reports on casualties have appeared. During clashes in Al-Obeid and Khartoum at least three civilians were killed and dozens injured.[23] At least twenty five civilians were killed and 26 injured during clashes in North Darfur, and an additional three civilians were killed by a rocket-propelled grenade, with a woman also being injured by a bullet.[44] A statement by the Sudan Doctors' Committee said two civilians were killed at Khartoum airport and another man was shot to death in the state of North Kordofan.[18] In Foro Baranga in West Darfur, tens were reportedly killed and hundreds injured.[45] In al-Fashir three civilians were killed and 27 injured.[46] In the city of Nyala, in South Darfur, 5 civilians were killed during the ongoing clashes.[47] In Kabkabiya, three employees for the World Food Programme (WFP) were killed after the RSF and armed forces exchanged fire at a military base. Two other staff members were seriously injured, and the RSF looted several WFP vehicles. A total of 27 people were reported dead and nearly 200 others injured across the country.[48]

Reactions

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on both Dagalo and al-Burhan to "immediately cease hostilities". The African Union called for a political solution to the crisis. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was concerned some actors were seeking to derail an agreement that had recently been reached to resume the Sudanese transition to democracy. The negotiations have sought to integrate the RSF into the military, and there had been significant disagreement on the timeline for this merger and the place of RSF leaders in the new hierarchy.[3]

Multiple airlines suspended flights to Khartoum after planes came under fire at Khartoum Airport, and Chad closed its land border.[5]

References

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  29. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  33. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  39. ^ مراسل العربية: قتال بين الجيش والدعم السريع في مدينة زالنجي في ولاية وسط دارفور #العربية_عاجل https://alarabiya.net Archived 15 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine, 15 April 2023
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  44. ^ "مراسل العربية: مقتل شخصين وإصابة 26 آخرين من المدنيين في الخرطوم بحري #العربية_عاجل https://alarabiya.net". Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  45. ^ سقوط قتلى وجرحي جراء اشتباكات بين الجيش والدعم السريع بالفاشر Archived 15 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine, 15 April 2023
  46. ^ ارتفاع جرحى الاشتباكات بين الجيش والدعم السريع بشمال دارفور Archived 15 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine, 15 April 2023
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  48. ^ "Sudan: Army and RSF battle over key sites, with 3 UN staff dead". BBC News. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
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