Sudan’s army and rival force battle, killing at least 26

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — Sudan's military and a powerful paramilitary force engaged in fierce fighting Saturday in the capital and elsewhere in the country, dealing a new blow to hopes for a transition to democracy and raising fears of a wider conflict.

The country's doctors' syndicate said at least 26 people were killed and more than 100 wounded.

The clashes capped months of heightened tensions between the armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces group.

Those tensions had delayed a deal with political parties to get the country back to its short-lived transition to democracy, which was derailed by an October 2021 military coup.

After a day of heavy fighting, the military ruled out negotiations with the RSF, instead calling for the dismantling of what it called a “rebellious militia.” The tough language signalled that the conflict between the former allies, who jointly orchestrated the 2021 coup, was likely to continue.

In a statement late Saturday, the military urged Sudanese to remain inside their homes as its air Force was attacking RSF troops.

The Sudan Doctor's Syndicate did not immediately release details of where the 26 deaths occurred, but it reported that at least six of them were in the capital Khartoum and its sister city Omdurman. At least eight of the dead and 58 wounded were in the vicinity of Nyala, the capital city of the South Darfur province in the country's southwest.

The fighting erupted early Saturday. The sound of heavy firing could be heard throughout the day across the neighbourhoods in and near the capital, where the military and the RSF had massed tens of thousands of troops since the coup.

Witnesses said fighters from both sides fired from armoured vehicles and from machine guns mounted on pick-up trucks in densely populated areas. Some tanks were seen in Khartoum. The military said it launched strikes from planes and drones at RSF positions in and around the capital.

As night fell, residents said they still heard the sounds of gunfire, explosions and jets flying overhead, in different parts of Khartoum, including around the military's headquarters and other bases.

Those in Khartoum described chaotic scenes. “Fire and explosions are everywhere,” said Amal Mohamed, a doctor in a public hospital in Omdurman. “We haven't seen such battles in Khartoum before,” said resident Abdel-Hamid Mustafa.

One of the flashpoints was Khartoum International Airport. There was no formal announcement that the airport was closed, but major airlines suspended their flights.

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