At least 25 people have reportedly been killed and 183 injured following ongoing clashes between Sudan’s army and paramilitary forces.
The country’s doctors trade union said the deaths came during sustained fighting on Saturday, with UK and US embassies in the city both warning their citizens to stay indoors.
They were unable to say how many of the casualties were civilians, but had earlier indicated at least three of the dead were not combatants.
Two people were killed at Khartoum airport, four in neighbouring Omdurman, eight in the city of Nyala, six in the city of El Obeid and five in El Fasher, the source added.
Clashes between Sudan’s army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) raged around the presidential palace and Khartoum International Airport as both sides fought for control of symbolic sites.
The two parties forged a partnership following the ousting of former leader Omar al Bashir in 2019, but army boss General Abdel Fattah al Burhan has been the country’s de facto president since a military coup in October 2021.
On Saturday, Sudan’s armed forces dismissed any possibility of negotiations between the two sides, writing on its Facebook page that there will be “no negotiations or dialogue until the dissolution of the paramilitary RSF”.
A new deal signed late last year was supposed to pave the way to democratic elections, but Saturday’s violence erupted following weeks of escalating tensions.
RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, has labelled General al Burhan a “criminal” and accused his troops of carrying out a coup.
Fighter jets have been seen over the city and two major airlines, the state-owned Saudi carrier Saudia and Egypt’s Egyptair, have suspended flights in and out until further notice.
A Saudia plane preparing to take off from Khartoum airport came under fire during clashes, the carrier said. Video showed the plane on fire on the tarmac.
Residents are camped in their homes as black smoke from heavy gunfire covers areas of the capital, with injured civilians having started pouring into hospitals. (Sky)