Explosions and gunfire rocked the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Monday as fighting between the regular army and paramilitaries entered its third day, with the death toll rising to nearly 100.
The violence erupted on Saturday following weeks of power struggles between Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The doctors’ union confirmed in a statement early Monday that the death toll among civilians in the clashes had reached 97, with hundreds of civilians also wounded. However, the actual casualty count may be higher as many could not reach hospitals due to difficulties in movement.
The fighting erupted over bitter disagreements between Burhan and Daglo regarding the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army, which is a key condition for a final deal aimed at ending the crisis that has unfolded since the military coup in 2021, which Burhan and Daglo orchestrated together.
The coup has derailed Sudan’s transition to civilian rule following the 2019 ouster of president Omar al-Bashir and exacerbated the country’s economic crisis.
The clashes have forced civilians to stay indoors, fearing a prolonged conflict that could plunge the country into deeper chaos and thwart hopes for a return to civilian rule.
Despite widespread calls for a ceasefire, the two generals, Burhan and Daglo, have shown no inclination for talks.
Burhan, who rose through the ranks under Bashir’s three-decade rule and is now jailed, has deemed the coup “necessary” to include more factions in politics, while Daglo has called it a “mistake” that failed to bring about change and reinvigorated remnants of Bashir’s regime ousted by the army in 2019 following mass protests.
The situation in Sudan remains highly volatile as fighting continues to escalate, causing grave concerns for the country’s stability and prospects for peace.
