Photo credit: The Wall Street Journal
The power struggle between two Sudanese generals and the associated violence escalated dramatically on Saturday and Sunday, leaving at least dozens of civilians and soldiers dead. Media reports indicate that fighting around the Sudanese army’s General Command in Khartoum intensified, but it remains unclear which side holds the upper hand. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday that at least 83 people have died and 1,126 have been injured in heavy fighting between the army and the influential paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). A Sudanese medical organisation reported that at least 56 civilians and dozens of soldiers have been killed. WHO added that hospitals in Khartoum, a city of around six million people, are overwhelmed.
Among those killed on Saturday were three employees of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), which announced on Sunday that it had halted its aid mission due to the killings. Two other WFP staff were injured in the clashes. WFP executive director Cindy McCain said the staff had been delivering relief supplies to the village of Kabkabiya in North Darfur and called for “immediate steps” to ensure the safety of all WFP personnel in Sudan.
The violence has sparked worldwide fears of a potential civil war in a country of about 46 million inhabitants and prompted calls for an immediate ceasefire. In response, two regional organisations convened emergency meetings on Sunday. The African Union’s Peace and Security Council discussed the “worrying” situation in Sudan, while the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) held an extraordinary summit of heads of state and government. IGAD’s executive secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu, said the summit would focus on how to “de‑escalate the situation in Sudan and restore calm for the good of the country.”
The clashes follow tension between Sudan’s de facto president and commander‑in‑chief Abdel Fattah al‑Burhan and his deputy Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, known as Hemedti, the RSF leader. Since the fall of dictator Omar al‑Bashir in 2019, the RSF and the military have effectively shared power. A delayed transition to civilian rule called for the RSF’s integration into the armed forces, creating a rift between the allies. Daglo has accused al‑Burhan of clinging to power.
Fighting erupted unexpectedly on Saturday morning in Khartoum. The RSF claimed Sudanese soldiers entered its headquarters in the city’s south, then attacked the northern airport and the presidential palace. The army responded with fighter jets and tanks. On Sunday, combat remained concentrated around the army headquarters and the state radio building, with both sides reporting contradictory successes that could not be independently verified. Violence also spread to other regions, including Darfur, North Kordofan, and the northern town of Merowe.
As the crisis deepened, the UN Security Council called on all parties to cease hostilities, initiate talks, ensure humanitarian access, and protect UN staff. The statement emphasized Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock demanded a ceasefire, saying she was “horrified by the many victims” and was closely monitoring the situation, especially concerning Germans on the ground. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Saudi and Emirati counterparts, stating that all parties must “immediately end hostilities without pre‑condition” and urging the generals to take active measures to reduce tensions and safeguard civilians. He added that the only way forward is a return to negotiations that support the Sudanese people’s democratic aspirations.
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