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.
9:36 a.m. ET, April 15, 2023
Rapid Support Forces say Sudan's military is laying siege to its location in Khartoum
The Rapid Support Forces said a large force from Sudan's army entered a location where the paramilitary group's forces were present on a base in Soba in the capital of Khartoum on Saturday.
The RSF said in a statement that it was surprised by the assault and Sudan's army inflicted "a large offensive with all types of light and heavy weapons."
RSF said in a statement that after the "brutal offensive," the leadership of the rapid forces conducted calls with officials and mediators.
The RSF said it is calling on the Sudanese people and the international and regional community to condemn the the armed forces' action.
CNN has not independently verified the RSF's claims, as fighting rages between the two sides in Khartoum and surrounding areas.
9:52 a.m. ET, April 15, 2023
Welcome to our live coverage. Here's what you need to know
From CNN journalists in Sudan
Smokes rise after clashes erupted in Khartoum, Sudan, on April 15. (Omer Erdem/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Welcome to our live coverage on Sudan, where fighting has erupted in the capital Khartoum. Here's what we know so far:
Fighting on the ground: Heavy fighting has been reported in Sudan's capital Khartoum, witnesses told CNN. The Sudanese paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said it has taken control of the presidential palace as well as several airports. A Reuters journalist saw cannon and armored vehicles deployed in streets of Khartoum, and heard the sound of heavy weapons fire near the headquarters of both the army and RSF.
What the army says: Sudan’s Armed Forces Command said in a statement that it was fighting the RSF in Khartoum, accusing the group of “traitorous plotting” against the country. It said that the paramilitary forces infiltrated Khartoum airport and burned civilian aircraft.
What the paramilitary says: The Rapid Support Forces said a large force from Sudan's army entered a base where its fighters were stationed in the capital of Khartoum on Saturday and launched a "brutal offensive."
How we got here: The military has been in charge of Sudan since a coup in 2021, which ended a power sharing arrangement formed following the ouster of long-term former President Omar al-Bashir. Talks have been under way on integrating the RSF into the army as part of the move towards the return of civilian rule. Last summer, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagelo, leader of the RSF paramilitary unit, was exposed in a CNN investigation as a key beneficiary of Russian support -- the primary recipient of Moscow's weapons and training in Sudan.
What the US and other foreign powers say: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a news conference Saturday that the situation in Khartoum is “fragile." The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called on forces fighting in Sudan to "stop the violence immediately," saying news of the fighting was "alarming."
