Sudan army, paramilitaries clash: African Union Commission calls for ceasefire

"At this moment of extreme gravity, the Chairperson of the AUC urges all components of the international community to combine, in unity and urgency, their efforts to bring the parties to immediately cease military actions and return at the negotiating table for a satisfactory exit from the crisis for all," read a statement released by African Union Commission. 

According to reports, the Chad government has closed its 872 mile border with Sudan so that the chaos does not spillover. 

“Chad appeals to the regional and international community as well as to all friendly countries to prioritise a return to peace,” it said in a statement.

"Notice to all Indians. In view of reported firings and clashes, all Indians in Sudan are advised to take utmost precautions, stay indoors and stop venturing outside with immediate effect," read the tweet. 

"The dramatic events taking place in Sudan are causing serious concern in Moscow. We call on the parties of the conflict to show political will and restraint and take urgent steps towards a ceasefire," said Russia's foreign ministry in a statement. 

"The Rapid Support Forces extend their control over a number of military sites in El Fasher, including the Signal Corps, the Medical Corps, and El Fasher Airport," tweeted RSF. 

The capital city of Sudan, Khartoum, witnessed heavy gunfire on Saturday (April 15), as violence between paramilitary groups and the army became more intense.

Gunmen can be seen opening fire on a roadway while spectators take cover in eyewitness video taken at the scene. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Saturday (April 15) that he was deeply worried about reports of rising hostilities between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the major paramilitary group in the nation, the Rapid Support Forces, and he demanded an immediate end to the fighting.

In an apparent coup attempt on Saturday, Sudan's biggest paramilitary group claimed to have taken control of the presidential palace, the army chief's home, and Khartoum International Airport. However, the military claimed to be retaliating.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who claimed that the army attacked them first, also claimed that they had seized control of the airports in the western city of El-Obeid and the northern city of Merowe.

Following accelerating fighting between Sudan's army and its largest paramilitary group on Saturday (April 15), television reports on the situation showed plumes of heavy black smoke rising above Khartoum's skyline.

As fights with the military broke out, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed to have taken possession of the presidential palace, the army chief's home, and the Khartoum International Airport in an apparent coup attempt.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, on Saturday, Sudan's paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo vowed to keep fighting till "all army bases are captured." 

"We will not stop fighting until we capture all the army bases and the honourable members of the armed forces join us," Daglo told Al Jazeera.

This comes as fighting has been raging on across several cities in Sudan since Saturday morning after the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Daglo first clashed. 

He also called army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan a criminal and accused the army of carrying out a coup, during a telephonic interview with Al Jazeera. 

According a report by the news agency AFP citing officials from the doctors union in Sudan, at least three were killed as the fighting between the Sudanese army and its paramilitaries rages on in the capital city of Khartoum and surrounding cities. 

In a statement on Facebook, the medics said "two people were killed in Khartoum airport" and another person was killed in El Obeid, in North Kordofan state, south of the capital

It added that at least nine other people were wounded in the clashes, including an army officer in Khartoum's sister city of Omdurman. 

The United States Embassy in Sudan issued a statement saying, "Due to reports of heavy gunfire in several locations in Khartoum, Embassy staff have been ordered to shelter in place. American citizens are encouraged to shelter in place."

This comes hours after the US Ambassador to Sudan, John Godfrey took to Twitter and wrote about the "sounds of gunfire and fighting" which began early Saturday after clashes erupted between the Sudanese army and the paramilitaries. 

In a statement, the head of the United Nations mission in Sudan, on Saturday, called for an "immediate" end to fighting hours after clashes erupted between the country's army and paramilitaries. 

The United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAM) chief Volker Perthes "strongly condemns the eruption of fighting in Sudan."

It added, "Perthes has reached out to both parties asking them for an immediate cessation of fighting to ensure the safety of the Sudanese people and to spare the country from further violence." 

In a statement, the Sudanese air force said that they had "destroyed Tiba and Soba camps (in Khartoum) which belong to the Rapid Support (Forces) militia." This comes as the fighting between the country's paramilitaries and army rages on in the capital city of Khartoum. 

The air force also said that the that the regular army was chasing down RSF fighters and urged civilians to stay indoors, reported AFP.

The claims by RSF taking control of the presidential place as well as Khartoum airport have since been denied by the army, as civilian leaders called for an immediate ceasefire to prevent the country's "total collapse". 

The military's civilian interlocutors called on both sides "to immediately cease hostilities and spare the country slipping into the abyss of total collapse." 

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday that the situation in Sudan was fragile" but insisted there was still an opportunity to complete the transition to a civilian-led government.

Blinken who is on a state visit to Vietnam, addressing a press conference said, "It's a fragile situation. There are other actors that may be pushing against that progress but this is a real opportunity to finally carry forward the civilian led transition and one that we and other countries are trying to bolster."

According to several media reports and eyewitness accounts, explosions and gunfire were heard around the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, on Saturday (April 15) as clashes were reported between the military led by army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary. 

Hours later, in a statement, the RSF claimed that they had taken “full control” of the presidential palace and key areas. Meanwhile, the Indian embassy in Sudan has asked Indians in the country to “stay indoors”. 

Click here to read more...