Amidst reports of firing in the Sudanese capital on Saturday morning amid tensions between the military and the country's powerful pa♋ramilitary forces, Indians in Sudan have been asked to take shelter. According to reports, Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces claim to have taken control over the presidential palace, the residence of army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Khartoum's intern⛎ational airport.
The Indian Embassy in Khartoum issued an update stating, "In view of reported firings and clashes, all Ind♛ians are advised to take utmost precautions, stay indoors and stop venturing outside with immediate effect. Please also stay calm and wait for updates."
Tensions between the military and the Rapid Suppoꦚrt Forces, as the paramilitary is known, have escalated in recent months, forcing a delay ♒in the signing of an internationally backed deal with political parties to revive the country's democratic transition.
The Rapid Support Forces issued a statement on Saturday morning, accusing the army of attacking its forces at one of its bases in South Khartou💎m. The military used light and heavy weapons in the attack, it said.
Tensions prevailing between the army and the paramilitary have stemmed from a disagreement over how the RSF should be integrated into the military and what authority should overs🌠ee the process. The merger is a key condition of Sudan's unsigned transition agreement.
However, the army-RSF rivalry dates back to the rule of autocratic President Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in 2019. Under the former president, the paramilitary force, led by powerful Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, grew out of former militias known as the Janjaweed that carried out a brutal crackdown in Sudan'sꦗ Darfur region during the decades of conflict there.
(With inputs from AP)
