Several aircraft damaged including a Saudia A330 at Khartoum Airport as Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces takes control of the airport after days of tension in the country. (Read More Here).
The clashes come as tensions between the military and the RSF have escalated in recent months, forcing a delay in the signing of an internationally backed deal with political parties to revive the country’s democratic transition.
Residents had not been expecting the clashes, she said, and many had been caught in transit. with bridges and roads closed and many schools in lockdown.
Duaa Tariq was speaking to the BBC when a military plane flew over her building – “They’re shooting live ammunition at the roof of the house next door and we’re just now taking shelter,” she said.
US Ambassador John Godfrey said he “woke up to the deeply disturbing sounds of gunfire and fighting. I am currently sheltering in place with the Embassy team, as Sudanese throughout Khartoum and elsewhere are doing”. He urged senior military leaders to stop the fighting.
Russia’s embassy was also concerned by the “escalation of violence” and urged a ceasefire, Reuters reports.
There are also reports of clashes at the state TV station.
RSF commander Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, told al-Jazeera that he would fight on until all army bases had been captured.
He said army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan was a “criminal” and would either be killed or “face justice”.
Earlier the RSF had said that one of its camps in the south of Khartoum had been attacked.
For its part, the army has said that RSF fighters have been trying to seize the military headquarters.
“Fighters from the Rapid Support Forces attacked several army camps in Khartoum and elsewhere around Sudan,” the AFP news agency quotes army spokesman Brig Gen Nabil Abdallah as saying.
“Clashes are ongoing and the army is carrying out its duty to safeguard the country.”
UAE-based airlines, Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia, have cancelled their flights to Sudan from April 15 to 17 “due to the current situation in the country,” spokespersons of the respective carriers confirmed to Khaleej Times on Saturday.
Dubai-based airlines, Emirates and flydubai, have cancelled their flights to Sudan from April 15 to 17; while Air Arabia said that all their flights to Sudan “have been suspended until further notice.”
“Due to the growing situation of civil unrest in the Sudanese capital, Emirates can confirm that all its flights to and from Khartoum are cancelled from April 15 to 17 inclusive. Passengers connecting to Khartoum on these flights will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin. Affected passengers should contact their respective travel agent or Emirates call centre for rebooking options,” said the airline spokesperson, adding: “Emirates apologises for any inconvenience caused.”
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