League of Arab States calls for ceasefire in Sudan
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The League of Arab States stresses that the organization is prepared to intervene and look into the situation upon cease of fire.
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Smoke rising as clashes continue in Sudan between the RSF and the army on April 15, 2023 (Reuters)
Following the breakout of clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Saturday, the League of Arab States (LAS) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit voiced his condemnation of arms use and urged for an immediate ceasefire.
In its statement, the LAS said that "Aboul Gheit condemns the use of arms in Sudan and calls for an immediate ceasefire," adding that Aboul Gheit requested the stop of escalations and stressed that the organization is prepared to intervene and look into the situation.
A statement by the RSF declared the group's control of the Presidential Palace, the guest house, Khartoum airports of Merowe and El Obeid, as well as a number of locations across the Sudanese states. The RSF also accused the Sudanese army of launching an attack using "heavy and light weapons" against one of its military bases in Khartoum earlier.
BREAKING: Planes on fire at Khartoum airport after coup attempt in Sudan pic.twitter.com/aWdyMv23xs
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According to an Al Mayadeen source, "The Sudanese army has not confirmed the control of Khartoum airport by the RSF."
This comes a mere two weeks after Sudan's political process parties decided to postpone the signing of a final agreement providing for the establishment of a transitional civil authority in the country. The final agreement was set to be signed on April 1, after which a transitional constitution was to be adopted on April 6.
Read more: Sudan's Al-Burhan urges troops to back democratic transition
The Sudanese army accused the RSF of attacking many of its bases in Khartoum and other areas shortly after announcing the RSF accused the army of attacking its bases. With that said, the director of the capital's Center for Strategic and Political Studies, Hassan Shayeb Denqos, told Al Mayadeen that "there is a state of panic among citizens, after heavy gunfire, clashes on the streets of the capital."
Denqos added that "the Sudanese army and the RSF are in a state of intense congestion", noting that "the current situation heralds a major explosion between them."
"The Sudanese Army Command declared the RSF to be rebel forces," Denqos concluded.
