Indian citizens living in Sudan were advised to stay indoors as the country’s army and paramilitary forces clashed in the capital city of Khartoum. Explosions were reported as the two factions attacked each other’s bases. The doctors’ union reported that three civilians had been killed and nine others wounded. The Indian Embassy in Khartoum advised all Indians to take precautions and stay indoors until further updates were provided.
Sudan’s paramilitaries claimed to have taken control of the presidential palace and the Khartoum airport, as well as expelling attacks from “bases in Soba” and bringing the Merowe airport under control. Videos on social media showed damaged aircraft at Khartoum Airport, including a Saudia A330, suggesting that Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces had taken control of the airport.
Tensions between military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his number two, paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, were high over the planned integration of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces into the regular army. Eyewitnesses reported confrontations, loud explosions, and gunfire near an RSF base in south Khartoum. Both sides blamed each other for starting the fight.
UN mission in Sudan Volker Perthes called for an “immediate” ceasefire, while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed deep concern about the fighting and urged all actors to stop the violence immediately and continue talks to resolve outstanding issues.
