Different groups have been fighting each other in Sudan for years, and the country’s territory has been torn apart under their influence. After the fall of long-term ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019, who ruled the country authoritarian for 30 years, a peace agreement was signed by various parties to the conflict in 2020 – however, the expected transition to a stable democracy has not yet taken place.
With fighting escalating over the weekend, the BBC reported on Saturday that the Luftwaffe was in action. Pictures showed warplanes over Khartoum, the target of their attacks was the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. Detonations and firefights could be heard in the capital. The Sudanese army is also said to have attacked bases on the ground.
The BBC reported panic in Khartoum, people were taken by surprise when fighting broke out, stuck in the streets, panic broke out. Roads and bridges were closed, and the national TV station was also occupied. Airlines from Saudi Arabia and Egypt suspended their flights to the country for the time being. Ruler and commander-in-chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced in the afternoon that the situation was under control again. However, further gunshots and explosions were reported in Khartoum and other parts of the country.
decades of conflict
The headquarters of the RSF is located in the south of Khartoum. It should actually be integrated into the state armed forces. Eyewitnesses also reported battles from regions further away from the capital, including in North Darfur. Darfur has been the scene of a civil war since 2003 which, according to UN estimates, has cost the lives of up to 300,000 people.
Only on Thursday did the Sudanese army warn against mobilizing the RSF. Observers saw the mobilization as a threatening gesture by the powerful RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan Daglo against ruler Burhan. Violent clashes that could result in another civil war were feared.
Democratization failed
Since the fall of Bashir in April 2019, the military led by General Burhan has held power in the country. The incorporation of the RSF into the military is one of the most important conditions for the formation of a civilian government.
Although the military and the RSF jointly led a military coup in the fall of 2021, tensions between the two military leaders have been mounting in recent months. The dispute is delaying the transition to a civilian government promised by ruler Burhan. Most recently, Daglo had surprisingly spoken out in favor of a rapid transition to civilian government, thereby opposing Burhan.
Elections postponed indefinitely
According to the original plans, Burhan should have withdrawn from the interim government by 2021 at the latest, leaving the country to be run by civilians. Instead, the military seized power again and indefinitely postponed democratic elections. This week, the military postponed the appointment of a new prime minister and again delayed the transfer of power.
Great concern internationally
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday that the situation in Sudan was fragile. However, there is still a chance for a transition to civilian government. The Russian embassy in Khartoum expressed concern about the escalation. According to the RIA news agency, the diplomatic mission called for a ceasefire and negotiations. The British Embassy called on its citizens in Sudan not to leave their homes. The situation is being closely monitored, she said on the short message service Twitter.
The UN’s special representative in Sudan, Volker Perthes, called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in view of the fighting in the country. Both sides must ensure the safety of the Sudanese people and refrain from further violence. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also called for an immediate end to the violence. “An escalation will only worsen the situation,” he warned.
