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Sudanese civil war (2023–present)

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2023 Sudan clashes
Part of the Sudanese transition to democracy

Military situation as of 15 April 2023[citation needed]
  Controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces
  Controlled by the Rapid Support Forces
  Under control of the Sudan Revolutionary Front
Date15 April 2023 – present (2023-04-15 – present)
(1 year, 8 months, 3 weeks and 3 days)
Location
Khartoum and other strategic cities in Sudan
Status

Ongoing

  • Disputed control of key government sites
Belligerents
Rapid Support Forces Sudanese Armed Forces
Commanders and leaders
Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
Strength
100,000[1] 100,000 – 150,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown
At least 59 civilians killed and 595 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. As of 15 April 2023, both RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan made claims regarding control of government sites, including the state TV headquarters, the Presidential Palace, Khartoum International Airport, and the Army chief's official residence.[2][3][4][5]

Reuters referred to the clashes as an apparent coup d'état attempt.[6]Meanwhile Al-Jazzera saided that if the clashes escalate it could become a civil war.[7]

Background

Main article: 2019–2026 Sudanese transition to democracy

Former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir presided over a war in the south of the country, which led to the secession of South Sudan in 2011.[8] He also oversaw state-sponsored violence in the western region of Darfur, leading to charges of war crimes and genocide.[9] Key figures in the Darfur conflict included Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo, the commander of the Rapid Support Forces at the time of the 2023 clashes.[2] In 2019, a coup d'état ousted al-Bashir in the context of massive civil disobedience that was often described as the first stage of the Sudanese Revolution. An interim unity government headed by Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok was established.[9] 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.[10]

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.[11] Chief among their political disputes is the integration of the RSF into the military.[12] 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.[2] Other contested issues included the status given to RSF officers in the future hierarchy, and whether RSF forces should be under the command of the army chief — rather than Sudan's commander-in-chief — who is currently Burhan.[13]

The RSF is a paramilitary organization with roots in Janjaweed militias that operated during the Darfur War.[8] It was formally created by President Bashir in 2013 and was led by Dagalo and overseen directly by Bashir.[14] They gained notoriety for their crackdown on pro-democracy protestors during the Khartoum massacre in June 2019.[8] The Bashir regime allowed several armed groups, including the RSF, to proliferate to prevent threats to its security from within the armed forces.[15] Both the RSF and the army have benefitted from security training and arms shipments from Moscow in exchange for gold.[16] 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.[14] Sudan has consistently denied the presence of Wagner on its territory.[17][18]

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. Al-Burhan became the effective leader of the junta, monopolizing power. Dagalo expressed regret over the October 2021 coup.[19] On 11 April 2023, RSF forces deployed near the city of Merowe and in Khartoum.[20] 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.[20] 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.[21]

Clashes

15 April 2023

Khartoum

See also: Battle of Khartoum (2023)

On 15 April 2023, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a surprise attack on multiple Sudanese Army bases across the country, including in the capital Khartoum.[2][22] At 12:00 (CAT), RSF forces claimed to have captured Khartoum International Airport, Merowe Airport, El Obeid Airport as well as a base in Soba.[23] Clashes between RSF and Army erupted at the presidential palace and at the residence of the general al-Burhan, with both sides claiming control over the two sites.[23]

In response, the Sudanese army announced the closure of all airports in the country.[24] and the Sudanese Air Force conducted airstrikes on RSF positions in Khartoum[23][25] with artillery fire being heard in different parts of the city.[26] Colonel Khaled Abdullah of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) claimed that 80 RSF-operated vehicles were destroyed and that the RSF's threats within Khartoum had been decreased.

Elsewhere in Khartoum clashes were reported at the headquarters of the state broadcaster Sudan TV.[27] The channel halted a news bulletin after the presenter began reading an item about the situation in Khartoum and switched the programming to music.[28] Local eyewitnesses and Al-Arabiya later reported that the TV station was captured by RSF forces.[2][29] Bridges and roads in Khartoum have been closed and checkpoints are beginning to be set up.[30] The RSF claimed that all roads heading south of Khartoum have been closed.[31]

At Khartoum International Airport, multiple aircraft belonging to Saudia, Badr Airlines, and SkyUp Airlines among others were reported to be damaged according to Flightradar24.[32] Saudia later confirmed that one of its aircraft, an Airbus, came under fire before takeoff at the airport and that it had evacuated all passengers, crew and staff to the Saudi embassy.[15] It along with EgyptAir also suspended all flights to and from Sudan.[15]

Darfur

Clashes also erupted in the capital of North Darfur state, Al-Fashir with Nyala Airport being shelled.[24][33] In Al-Fashir, heavy clashes were ongoing using light and heavy weapons with RSF forces trying to capture the airport and other buildings.[34] RSF forces claimed to have captured the airport, and the Signal Corps and Medical Corps headquarters in Al-Fashir.[31] Clashes also erupted in Zalingei in Central Darfur.[35]

Elsewhere

Later in the day, the SAF claimed that RSF forces in White Nile, Gedaref, Kassala, Nyala, Port Sudan, Kadugli, Damazin and Kosti had surrendered, and that the RSF camps of Taiba and Soba have been destroyed.[31][36][37]

Egyptian POWs

At 17:00 (CAT) RSF forces claimed, via Twitter, to have taken several Egyptian troops prisoner near Merowe.[38][39] 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.[40] Later on, the Egyptian Armed Forces said its soldiers, part of the El Sa'ka Forces, were in Sudan to conduct exercises with the Sudanese military.[2] 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.[31][41]

16 April 2023

Telecommunications provider MTN shut down internet services across the country after orders from the Sudanese telecommunications regulator were given.[42] The General Intelligence Service announced the recapture by the SAF of a Major General and a Brigadier from RSF forces.[23] An RSF advisor said that they tactically withdrew from the Karari camp in Omdurman while also claiming that 90% of Khartoum is under RSF control.[42][23] At around 13:30 (CAT), the SAF announced the arrest of multiple RSF officers at Merowe Airport and the taking of the airport itself, while also claiming that multiple RSF leaders had deserted or surrendered to the SAF. SAF officials also said that RSF members fled Merowe Airport with Egyptian soldiers being taken as prisoners.[23] Representatives from the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF agreed to a proposal by the United Nations to pause fighting between 16:00 and 19:00 local time.[43] The Sudanese army announced that it approved a UN proposal to open a safe passage for urgent humanitarian cases for three hours every day starting from 16:00 local time, and stated that it reserved the right to react if the RSF "commit[ted] any violations".[44] Sudan TV also completely halted its broadcasts.[45][46]

Casualties

During initial 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.[47] 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.[15] In Foro Baranga in West Darfur, tens were reportedly killed and hundreds injured.[48] In al-Fashir three civilians were killed and 27 injured.[49] In the city of Nyala, in South Darfur, 8 civilians were killed during the ongoing clashes.[50] 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. Consequentially, this led to the WFP temporarily suspending its operations in Sudan.[23] A total of 56 people were reported dead and at least 595 others injured across the country. Twenty-five of the dead, including 17 civilians, were reported to be from Khartoum.[2] The governor of North Darfur has also called the humanitarian situation in the region dire, although exact statistics regarding casualties throughout North Darfur are yet to be determined.[23] A spokesperson for the Sudanese Red Crescent was also quoted as saying that the number of casualties "was not small".[31] An Indian national working in Sudan died after being hit by a stray bullet on 15 April.[45]

Reactions

Domestic

Rapid Support Forces (RSF): 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.[31]

Sudanese Armed Forces: 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] The Sudanese Armed Forces' media representative told Al Jazeera that retired veterans have joined the SAF's fight against the RSF.

Al-Burhan 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.[31]

Former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok publicly appealed to both al-Burhan and Dagalo, asking them to cease fighting.[51]

International

Countries

Chad Chad: Chad closed its land border with Sudan.[2]

Egypt South Sudan Egypt and South Sudan: Two of Sudan's neighbouring countries offered to mediate between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. In a phone call between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his counterpart Salva Kiir, the two called on both sides in the conflict to “choose the voice of reason (and) peaceful dialogue”.[52]

Organizations

African Union: The African Union called for a political solution to the crisis. The African Union's Peace and Security council has said that it "strongly rejects any external interference that could complicate the situation in Sudan" after an emergency meeting.[3][53] It also announced that the head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, was planning to "immediately" go on a ceasefire mission to Sudan.[54]

Arab League: The Arab League called for an immediate end to the violence in Sudan and offered to mediate between the country’s warring sides. A statement issued following an emergency meeting in Cairo called for “an immediate cessation of armed clashes in Sudan and a quick return to the peaceful path to resolve the crisis.” It also said it is ready “to exert efforts to help Sudan end the crisis in a sustainable manner, in a way that serves the interest of the Sudanese people”, and warned of serious repercussions of the violent escalation in Sudan, “the scope of which is difficult to determine internally and regionally.”[55]

United Nations: UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on both Dagalo and al-Burhan to "immediately cease hostilities".

World Food Programme: The UN-attached agency announced that it was suspending all operations in Sudan following the deaths of three of its employees during clashes at Kabkabiya, North Darfur. It also confirmed that one of its aircraft had been damaged at Khartoum International Airport during an exchange of gunfire on 15 April, which it says impacted its ability to move staff and provide assistance to people across the country.[56]

References

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  49. ^ "ارتفاع جرحى الاشتباكات بين الجيش والدعم السريع بشمال دارفور". موقع دارفور٢٤ الاخباري (in Arabic). 2023-04-15. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
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  53. ^ Kodjo, Tchioffo. "Communiqué Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1149th meeting, held on 16 April 2023, on Briefing on the situation in Sudan. -African Union - Peace and Security Department". African Union,Peace and Security Department. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
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  56. ^ "WFP temporarily halts operations in Sudan". BBC. 2023-04-16. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
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