At least 25 killed in clashes between Sudan forces

By Adrienne Vogt, Sophie Tanno, Tori B. Powell and Matt Meyer, CNN

Updated 7:58 a.m. ET, April 16, 2023
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7:58 a.m. ET, April 16, 2023

We've wrapped up our live coverage of the fighting in Sudan. You can read the latest information here.

5:57 p.m. ET, April 15, 2023

Sudanese capital declares Sunday a public holiday for citizens' safety

From CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali

As heavy clashes continue between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group, the capital of Khartoum declared Sunday a public holiday.

The Khartoum State Security Committee said it took the measure "in order to preserve lives of citizens and their property."

The committee has been in permanent session since the fighting broke out Saturday morning, it said in a statement.

5:20 p.m. ET, April 15, 2023

At least 25 people killed and 183 wounded in Sudan clashes, medical committee says

From CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali

At least 25 people have been killed and 183 others wounded as a paramilitary group clashes with Sudan's army Saturday, the Sudanese Central Medical Committee told CNN.

4:54 p.m. ET, April 15, 2023

Sudan's army warns civilians to stay inside as warplanes search for paramilitary fighters

From CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali

Smoke rises in Omdurman as seen from Khartoum, Sudan on April 15.
Smoke rises in Omdurman as seen from Khartoum, Sudan on April 15. (Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Reuters)

Sudan's military called on civilians to stay inside as warplanes conduct sweeps looking for troops from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

“The Sudanese Air Force will conduct a complete sweep of the rebel Rapid Support militia's presence. The Air Force calling on all citizens to stay inside their houses and not to go out,” the General Command of the Sudanese Army said in a statement.

Key context: The forces deemed a rebel militia by Sudan's army were, until recently, allies of the Sudanese military and its chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

The two sides worked together during a coup in 2021, but have recently developed tensions as they negotiate plans to integrate the RSF into the army.

The two forces broke into open conflict Saturday morning, according to leaders from both sides.

5:22 p.m. ET, April 15, 2023

US lawmakers call for transfer to civilian rule in Sudan. Here's more reaction from around the world

From CNN staff

Rep. Michael McCaul speaks during a US House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing in Washington, DC, in 2021.
Rep. Michael McCaul speaks during a US House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing in Washington, DC, in 2021. (Ting Shen/Pool/Reuters/FILE)

Leaders from across the globe are responding to the conflict in Sudan.

Here's what they had to say:

US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul and Ranking Member Rep. Gregory Meeks said they are "alarmed by the outbreak of fighting."

"We call for forces to protect civilians who are caught in the middle of this fighting and an immediate ceasefire. A transition to civilian rule is the only way forward toward lasting peace and stability in Sudan," a joint statement from McCaul and Meeks read.

UN Secretary General António Guterres "strongly condemns the outbreak of fighting" seen in Sudan, according to his spokesperson, he said in a statement Saturday.

Guterres met with the Chairperson of the African Union, Moussa Faki Mahamat Saturday, where they "agreed to coordinate their efforts to work towards an immediate de-escalation of the crisis," the spokesperson said.

UN Special Representative Volker Perthes also condemned the outbreak of fighting.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali said his government is "following with great concern the current clashes."

He urged "all parties to exercise restraint, stop the fighting, and return to peaceful dialogue to complete the path of negotiation and understanding for the sake of the higher interests of brotherly Sudan," in a statement issued Saturday.

US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Sen. Jim Risch said on Twitter Saturday that he "deplores" the fighting between both sides in Sudan.

3:47 p.m. ET, April 15, 2023

Sudanese army says there would be no negotiation before "dissolving" RSF

From CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali

The General Command of the Sudanese Army said in a statement Saturday that there is "no negotiation or dialogue before dissolving Hemedti’s rebel militia," referring to paramilitary Rapid Support Forces Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

It has issued a wanted poster against Dagalo, who is also known as Hemedti.

“Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo is a fugitive criminal. We call on all citizens not to deal with him and to report him and his forces," the poster reads.

The army also told civilians not to attack the RSF themselves. 

“The armed forces are capable of rapid decisiveness, but they work to protect you from combat operations,” the Sudanese army added.

4:28 p.m. ET, April 15, 2023

RSF commander counters Sudan army, claiming his group controls most strategic sites in the capital

From CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali

Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo attends a rally in the village of Abraq, Sudan, in 2019.
Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo attends a rally in the village of Abraq, Sudan, in 2019. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images)

The leader of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, blamed the army for starting the turmoil and claimed the RSF is in control of 90% of strategic sites in the capital of Khartoum.

"The army decided to strike all Rapid Support Forces headquarters," Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, said during a phone interview with Sky News Arabic. "We will not surrender and we will defend ourselves."

"We regret what is happening in Sudan, which is something we were forced to do,” he said, reiterating his remarks from an interview with Al Jazeera earlier. He added that his group "will cross Sudan to safety."

Hemedti claimed he was conducting the phone interview while he was in front of the door of the General Command of the Sudanese Army.

What the armed forces' head says: Sudan's military chief said Saturday that no Rapid Support Forces paramilitaries were able to enter the army's general command and all "strategic sites" remain under the army's control

The country's military leader, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, lives inside the army headquarters and said he "was surprised" by the RSF attack on his house Saturday morning.

"No one was able to enter the Army General Command and all the strategic sites are under control," Burhan said in a statement. 

The Sudanese presidential palace and military headquarters are under army control, according to Burhan, while the RSF earlier claimed it had seized the palace and several airports.

CNN cannot independently verify either side's reports.

3:05 p.m. ET, April 15, 2023

Paramilitary claims a group of Egyptian troops surrendered to them in northern Sudan

From CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali

The Egyptian military said it is coordinating with Sudanese authorities to ensure the safety of its forces in Sudan, after the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces claimed a group of Egyptian service members surrendered to their troops.

Egypt said its forces were conducting joint exercises with their counterparts in Sudan when fighting broke out between Sudan's army and the RSF.

Video released by the paramilitary group purports to show "a battalion" of Egyptian troops who had "surrendered" to them in the northern Sudanese town of Merowe.

CNN cannot independently verify the RSF's claim.

Egypt is closely monitoring the fighting, army spokesperson Col. Gharib Abdel Hafez said in a statement.

Egypt borders Sudan to the north.

2:47 p.m. ET, April 15, 2023

Kenyan president says he's "consulting with the regional leadership" on situation in Sudan

From CNN's Larry Madowo and Hamdi Alkhshali

Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto speaks in Berlin, Germany, on March 28.
Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto speaks in Berlin, Germany, on March 28. (Janine Schmitz/picture-alliance/dpa/AP)

South of Sudan in Kenya, President William Ruto is "consulting with the regional leadership and other relevant international partners to seek ways to support dialogue and meditation" in regard to the conflict, he said Saturday.

"Kenya is concerned about the developing crisis in Sudan," Ruto said in a tweet. "I implore all parties to address any differences through peaceful means for the sake of the security of the people of Sudan and stability in the country and the region, especially during this Holy month of Ramadan. The outbreak of violence will only reverse the gains Sudan has made to the detriment of its lasting peace and prosperity."