By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Apprehension grew on Saturday in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum after a heavy gunfire was heard following a clash between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary agency.
The conflict erupted after days of tension between the army and the RSF, which raised concerns about a confrontation.
The RSF said it had taken control of the presidential palace, the residence of the army chief and Khartoum International Airport.
The disagreement between the forces escalated on Thursday, when the army said recent movements by the RSF are without coordination and were illegal too.
A statement by the RSF on Saturday called the army’s actions a “brute assault” and called for it to be condemned. It said the RSF had been in contact with local and international mediators to inform them.
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.
Speaking from Hanoi, Blinken said the situation was “fragile” as some actors “may be pushing against that progress”.
A Reuters witness said they saw armoured vehicles deployed in streets, and heard the sound of heavy weaponry in the vicinity of the headquarters of the army and the RSF.
Reuters reports that the source of the gunfire could not be immediately confirmed, but people could be seen running in panic through the capital.
