Clashes between Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces rage on

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen Net
17 Apr 2023 22:01
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Clashing parties report different narratives on the developments of the military conflict.

Sudanese army soldiers astride an armored vehicle in the Red Sea Port city, April 16, 2023 (AFP)

Air strikes and shelling shook the besieged Sudanese capital, today, Monday, in the third day of fierce fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces for control of the country.

According to Volker Perthes, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan, more than 1,800 people have been injured, and the death toll from the conflict in Sudan has surpassed 180.

"More than 180 fatalities, more than 1,800 injured, including three colleagues from World Food Program, who have been killed while trying to serve the Sudanese people," Perthes stated.

Clashes ensued in front of the state television headquarters as the RSF is trying to appropriate it while the army guards the television HQ.

In a recently released statement, the Sudanese Armed Forces announced that they have proceeded to the final stage of the "special military operation" by "chasing the enemy, whose affiliates are fleeing everywhere, leaving behind their weapons, equipment, and the wounded".

Furthermore, the statement denied rumors of losing any headquarters noting that "many buildings in the vicinity of the General Command are being targeted to give the impression that the General Command has fallen in the hands of the RSF".

"Burning buildings is natural given the nature of the skirmishes," the statement added, stressing the army's keenness to "minimize the fronts of clash with the Rapid Support Forces as much as possible to avoid any civilian casualties."

The army is "managing the battle as planned, and operating in accordance with the international humanitarian law... [however] the Rapid Support Forces, unfortunately, were intentionally engaged in populated areas."

An official from the Sudanese military announced on Monday that the country's armed forces had accepted the UN plan to create humanitarian corridors for three hours beginning at 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT).

"After consultations, the Sudanese armed forces agreed to the UN proposal to open security corridors for humanitarian cases for three hours, starting Monday at 16:00. However, the military still has the right to respond in case of any violations by rebel formations," the statement said.

Refuting the claims of the army, the Rapid Support Forces announced on its Twitter page that the forces had taken full control of the Radio and Television Corporation HQ in Omdurman, denying any clashes with the Sudanese Armed Forces in the vicinity of the radio and television.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله تعالى وبركاته
الشعب السوداني العظيم
اليوم الإثنين 17 أبريل 2023
نبشركم أن قوات الدعم السريع تبسط كامل سيطرتها على مقر هيئة الإذاعة والتلفزيون بأم درمان، وننفي وجود أي اشتباكات مع القوات الانقلابية حول محيط الإذاعة والتلفزيون pic.twitter.com/7zhjfTGrlD
— Rapid Support Forces - قوات الدعم السريع (@RSFSudan) April 17, 2023

The Rapid Support Forces announced that they had captured the headquarters of the Military Intelligence at the General Command, and announced their full control over the Marawi Airport.

The RSF announced that they had managed "sweeping victories" in the battles against the army and that they had taken "complete control" over the Republican Palace in the capital, Khartoum.

The RSF announced in a statement that it is "engaged in a fateful battle to put an end to the coup junta that leads the army,"

Armed confrontations between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out last week and have been raging on ever since.

The RSF on Thursday reportedly carried out a sudden redeployment of its forces near the airport in Merowe, northern Sudan, with the Sudanese army responding by issuing a statement saying the redeployment was illegal and was not coordinated with Khartoum.

Clashes broke out earlier on Friday, culminating with the RSF claiming control of the Republican Palace in Khartoum and the airports in Khartoum and Merowe. The national army denied the presidential palace's takeover and said it was bombing RSF bases near Khartoum.

International organizations and various countries, including Russia, have called on the Sudanese adversaries to cease fire and kickstart talks. Two large airlines, EgyptAir and Saudia, have temporarily suspended flights to Sudan, citing insecurity.

Explosions and gunfire were heard in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, on Saturday, AFP reported, while reports argued that clashes between the Sudanese military and the RSF erupted across the country's capital.