Sudan
CRISIS IMPACT OVERVIEW
On 15 April 2023, a violent power struggle broke out in Sudan’s capital of Khartoum between the two main factions of the ruling military regime: the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which acts as the official Sudanese army, and a rival paramilitary force, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). As at 18 April, at least 200 people were dead, and 1,800 were injured (UN 17/04/2023).
The violence broke out as a result of rising tensions between Sudan’s most powerful generals. These generals jointly staged a coup d’état in October 2021; in 2019, the RSF, which comprised former militias from the Darfur war (from 2003–2020), joined forces with the Sudanese army to overthrow Sudan’s long-time leader, Omar al-Bashir, leading to a civilian-military power-sharing government. In 2021, the military and the RSF used the pretext of political wrangling between civilian camps to seize full power (ICG 23/01/2023; Reuters 14/04/2023). Subsequent negotiations on how to integrate the RSF into the SAF eventually led to clashes. The main reason behind the clashes was the lack of agreement on who would be exercising ultimate control over the combatants (Reuters 17/04/2023; The Guardian 16/04/2023; ICG 23/01/2023: ABC 17/04/2023).
On 13 April 2023, the SAF noted uncoordinated redeployments of RSF units towards critical infrastructure and buildings in Khartoum and other parts of the country. This was an illegal move that the military government considered risky, as it could produce confrontations between the army and the RSF (AA 16/04/2023: Reuters 14/04/2023). On 15 April, the RSF issued a statement claiming control of the presidential palace and Khartoum International Airport, among other key locations. Since then, there have been clashes between the RSF and the SAF in Kassala, Khartoum, North Darfur, North Kordofan, and South Darfur states (OCHA 17/04/2023). The Sudanese army has since reported regaining control of the presidential palace (OCHA 16/04/2023; Reuters 14/04/2023). As at 17 April, the RSF and the SAF continued fighting for control over Khartoum International Airport (BBC 17/04/2023; The Guardian 17/04/2023). The RSF reported that, after discussions with the US and other friendly nations, they had committed to a 24-hour ceasefire as at 18 April, to allow for safe passage of civilians and humanitarian aid. This was hours later denied by the army on its twitter page, claiming no agreement had been reached (BBC 17/04/2023).
Although earlier reports claimed Egyptian soldiers were fighting RSF along with the army, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi confirmed that the soldiers were in Sudan for training (BBC 17/04/2023).
The violence has led to the closure of hospitals and movement restrictions ordered by the army across Khartoum (NYT 16/04/2023). There are severe access restrictions, as hospitals have been under direct missile attacks from both sides (CNN 17/04/2023). An UNHAS aircraft has also been attacked (OCHA 17/04/2023). As at 18 April, the state-owned radio station was still off air, while the state-owned TV station has been playing reels of patriotic music and footage of the army’s victories and broadcasted a statement of defection to the army by the RSF spokesperson. This continues in the middle of a propaganda war between the rival factions (BBC 17/04/2023).
Sudan
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