Smoke rises in Omdurman, Sudan, on April 15. (Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Reuters)
The confrontation between Sudan's Armed Forces and paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces is one that military sources say they have been bracing for.
Sudan’s military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, until recently, were bedfellows. They were bound together by a 2021 coup and the prior toppling of ousted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
A CNN investigation also uncovered another link between the two men: their involvement in Russia’s exploitation of Sudan’s gold resources to fund its Ukraine war, with Dagalo’s forces also being key recipients of Russian training and weaponry.
So what went wrong? The pie the two were forced to share got smaller. Forced to disavow Russian support in the face of an international outcry, they returned to the negotiating table with their former partners in government as part of the move to restore civilian rule.
At stake in negotiations over recent weeks was who would get to be the senior partner of the required merger of the two forces, as per the terms of a new deal with the civilian leaders.
Sources in Sudan’s civilian movement and Sudanese military sources told CNN the main points of contention included the timeline for the merger of the forces, the status given to RSF officers in the future hierarchy, and whether RSF forces should be under the command of the army chief — rather than Sudan's commander-in-chief — who is currently al-Burhan.
These hostilities, sources told CNN, are the culmination of what both parties view as an existential fight for dominance. One that has al-Burhan, they said, seeking support from Sudan’s former Islamist rulers, resurrecting the specter of days many Sudanese fought to leave behind.
10:41 a.m. ET, April 15, 2023
CNN investigation exposed Russian scheme with leader of RSF paramilitary group
From CNN staff
Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo talks during the press conference in Khartoum, Sudan, in 2022. (Mahmoud Hjaj/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
A CNN investigation last summer exposed Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of the RSF paramilitary unit, as a key beneficiary of Russian support.
CNN exposed how Russia, through a relationship with Dagalo and Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan — the country's military ruler — exploited Sudan’s gold resources to fund its war in Ukraine.
Multiple interviews with high-level Sudanese and US officials and troves of documents reviewed by CNN painted a picture of an elaborate Russian scheme to plunder Sudan’s riches. The scheme was aimed at fortifying Russia against increasingly robust Western sanctions and buttressing Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.
The evidence also suggested that Russia had colluded with Sudan’s beleaguered military leadership, enabling billions of dollars in gold to bypass the Sudanese state and to deprive the poverty-stricken country of hundreds of millions in state revenue.
In exchange, Russia lent powerful political and military backing to Sudan’s increasingly unpopular military leadership as it violently quashed the country’s pro-democracy movement.
In the ensuing outcry, the US and many in the international community placed pressure on Dagalo and al-Burhan to disavow Russia, serving to distance Dagalo and his forces from a crucial resource.
Sudan's National Umma Party urges army and paramilitary group to stop ongoing clashes
From CNN journalists in Sudan
Sudan's National Umma Party urged the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group to cease the ongoing violence taking place in the capital of Khartoum.
The Islamic political party shared a statement Saturday containing a list of points directed at the leaders of both sides, including the "immediate cease-fire at all engagement sites" and the restoration of both sides to "their previous positions before the clashes."
The statement appealed to the Sudanese people "to secure national unity," while also asking neighboring countries to "prevent any form of foreign interference."
12:16 p.m. ET, April 15, 2023
UN representative for Sudan condemns outbreak of fighting and calls for peace
From CNN's Nima Elbagir and Lauren Kent
Volker Perthes speaks during a press conference in Khartoum, Sudan, in 2022. (Mahmoud Hjaj/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
The United Nations special representative for Sudan strongly condemned the outbreak of fighting on Saturday.
Volker Perthes, the UN's special representative of the secretary-general for Sudan and head of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission, issued a statement calling for an "immediate halt to the fighting" in Khartoum and in other areas outside the capital.
"The Special Representative Perthes has reached out to both sides, calling for an immediate halt to the fighting in order to ensure the safety of the Sudanese people and to spare the country further violence," the UN statement said.
9:59 a.m. ET, April 15, 2023
Sudan military leader: All "strategic sites" of army command remain in control of armed forces
From CNN journalists in Sudan
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan attends a ceremony in 2022. (Ashraf Shazly/AFP/Getty Images)
Sudan's military chief said on 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.
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the country's Sovereignty Council, who lives inside the army headquarters, added that he "was surprised" by the RSF attack on his house on 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 Rapid Support Forces infiltrated the airport through the Hajj and Umrah hall and burned planes, and our forces have dealt with them," Burhan said.
The RSF has claimed control over the presidential palace and several airports.
10:33 a.m. ET, April 15, 2023
Countries around the world call for end to fighting in Sudan and warn citizens to shelter in place
From CNN staff
Smoke is seen rising from a neighborhood in Khartoum, Sudan, on Saturday, April 15. (Marwan Ali/AP)
Global leaders and embassies expressed concern over the situation unfolding in Sudan between the country's military and the paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces, calling for an end to conflict and advising citizens to stay indoors.
European Union
The European Union's foreign policy chief called on forces fighting in Sudan to "stop the violence immediately," calling the situation "alarming."
"An escalation will only aggravate the situation. Protection of citizens is a priority," Josep Borrell tweeted on Saturday.
United States
The US Embassy in Sudan has issued security alerts, and embassy staff in Khartoum have been ordered to shelter in place due to "reports of heavy gunfire in several locations in Khartoum." American citizens in the country are also encouraged to shelter.
"There are no plans for a U.S. government-coordinated evacuation of U.S. citizens at this time," according to the US Embassy security alert.
The US ambassador to Sudan said he is sheltering in place.
“I just arrived late last night in Khartoum and woke up to the deeply disturbing sounds of gunfire and fighting,” Ambassador John Godfrey said in a tweet. He urged all senior military leaders to stop the fighting.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday that the situation in Khartoum is "fragile" when asked by a reporter to comment during a presser in Vietnam.
“The major parties in Khartoum, some weeks ago reached a very important framework agreement on how to proceed with a transition to civilian government. And there's been real progress in trying to move that forward,” Blinken 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,” Blinken added.
UK
The British Embassy in Sudan encouraged all UK nationals in the country to stay indoors amid the fighting.
"We are closely monitoring the situation in Khartoum and other parts of Sudan where there are ongoing military clashes," British Embassy in Sudan said in a tweet. "We advise all British Nationals in Sudan to remain indoors and follow our travel advice for more updates."
Egypt
Egypt expressed "great concern" regarding the ongoing clashes and called on all parties to stop the violence in a statement issued on Saturday.
“The Arab Republic of Egypt follows with great concern the developments of the situation in Sudan due to the clashes taking place there, and calls on all Sudanese parties to exercise maximum levels of self-control to protect the lives and potential of the brotherly Sudanese people, and in advance of the highest interests of the homeland,” a statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said.
India
The Embassy of India in Khartoum issued a notice on Saturday for all Indians to stay inside and take precautions.
"STOP VENTURING OUTSIDE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. PLEASE ALSO STAY CALM AND WAIT FOR UPDATES," the Embassy of India said in a tweet.
Russia
Russia issued a statement on Saturday calling for "urgent steps towards a ceasefire" in Sudan.
“We proceed from the fact that any disagreements can be settled through negotiations,” the Russian Foreign Ministry statement said. The ministry added that the Russian Embassy in Khartoum is operating "under increased security measures” and that, so far, no Russian citizens have been injured in Sudan.
Russia itself has waved off calls to stand down in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
CNN's Michael Callahan, Xiaofei Xu, Sophie Jeong, Lauren Kent, Duarte Mendonca, Salma Abdelaziz, Manveena Suri and Mariya Knight contributed to this post.
Smoke is seen on the tarmac of Khartoum's airport on April 15. (AFP/Getty Images)
Sudan's Armed Forces said that paramilitary forces infiltrated Khartoum's airport and burned civilian aircraft, according to an update on the armed forces' Facebook page.
"Earlier on elements of the insurgent forces clandestinely got in Khartoum airport and struck and burned civilian aircraft including one belonging to the Royal Saudi Airline," the armed forces said.
"The Armed Forces were able to destroy more than 80 vehicles of the RSF [Rapid Support Forces] militia backed by foreign powers and the rest fled to the Jabal Ghazala area to shield themselves with civilians in the city of Marawi," the statement claimed.
The update did not give information about any potential injuries or casualties.
Sudan's Armed Forces said in a statement Saturday that the country's air force has “destroyed” the Tibah and Soba camps of the "externally-backed" paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The military also said it is chasing RSF in order to protect civilians, according to an update on its Facebook page.
9:53 a.m. ET, April 15, 2023
Sudan's army says it is confronting paramilitary forces in Khartoum
From CNN journalists in Sudan
Army soldiers deploy in Khartoum, Sudan, on Saturday, April 15. (AFP/Getty Images)
Sudan's army is confronting paramilitary forces in the capital Khartoum, the Armed Forces Command said in a statement Saturday, accusing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) group of carrying out "traitorous plotting" against the country.
"To our honorable people, the rebellious forces are continuing with their cycles of traitorous plotting and attacks against our country and its national sovereignty. Since this morning, your Armed Forces sons have been fighting with their lives for our nation's rights and dignity," the official spokesman of the Armed Forces said in a statement.
"Our forces are now confronting the enemy, which is deploying its forces from their bases that are spread throughout the Capital in attempts to control strategic sites including the Presidential Palace, the General Command HQ," the statement added. "They will fail and be defeated by our will and courage of your sons of the Armed Forces."
"Paradise and eternity to our martyrs, Speedy recovery to our wounded," the statement concluded. "Long live our dignified country."
CNN is unable to establish the exact situation on the ground.
Some context: Tensions between the two groups have been high for weeks over plans to merge the RSF and the army. The military has been in charge of Sudan since a coup in 2021.
9:03 a.m. ET, April 15, 2023
Heavy fighting reported around Sudan's presidential palace and army headquarters
Heavy fighting has been reported around the presidential palace and army headquarters in Sudan's capital of Khartoum, witnesses told CNN.
Flights have been suspended inbound and outbound from the capital's airport.
The Rapid Support Forces — a paramilitary group in Sudan — said in a statement on Saturday that it had taken control of the presidential palace and the airports in Khartoum, Marwa and al-Abiad.
