Almost 100 people have died in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, as intense combat between the country\u2019s military and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rages for a third day.<\/p>\n
The fierce fighting has left hopes for a peaceful transition to civilian rule in tatters.<\/p>\n
At the heart of the clashes are two men: Sudan\u2019s military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the commander of the paramilitary RSF, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti.<\/p>\n
Until recently, they were allies. However, tensions arose during negotiations to integrate the RSF into the country\u2019s military as part of plans to restore civilian rule.<\/p>\n
The key question: who would be subordinate to who under the new hierarchy.<\/p>\n
These hostilities, sources told CNN, are the culmination of what both parties view as an existential fight for dominance.<\/p>\n
Clashes first erupted on Saturday. Eyewitnesses in Khartoum told CNN on Monday they heard mortars and artillery in the early hours of the morning, with the fighting intensifying after dawn prayers in the direction of Khartoum International Airport and Sudanese Army garrison sites.<\/p>\n
Each side blames one another for starting the fight.<\/p>\n
CNN spoke to both Hemedti and Burhan in separate interviews this week.<\/p>\n
Sudan\u2019s paramilitary chief accuses army of breaking humanitarian ceasefire<\/p>\n
The leader of Sudan\u2019s powerful paramilitary group RSF, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has accused the Sudanese army of breaking a UN-brokered temporary humanitarian ceasefire Sunday evening.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re under attack from all directions,\u201d Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, told CNN\u2019s Larry Madowo in a telephone interview. \u201cWe stopped fighting and the other side did not, which put us in a predicament and we had to keep fighting to defend ourselves,\u201d he claimed.<\/p>\n
Hemedti speculated that army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has lost control of his military, saying \u201cthey don\u2019t seem to be listening to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also claimed to be in control of the presidential palace, Khartoum airport, and the General Command headquarters. CNN cannot independently verify the claim.<\/p>\n
When asked if his endgame in the clashes was to rule Sudan, Hemedti said he had \u201cno such intentions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere should be a civilian government. This has always been my stance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The RSF leader apologized to the Sudanese people and blamed the military for kickstarting the conflict. \u201cIt was not us who did this. We were defending ourselves. We\u2019re sorry and we tell the Sudanese people that this crisis will end, and Sudan will be even better than before. And this will be a lesson to learn in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Watch on CNN: https:\/\/cnn.it\/3KFd6zb<\/p>\n
Sudan military chief calls RSF offensive an \u2018attempted coup\u2019<\/p>\n
Speaking with CNN\u2019s Nima Elbagir, the head of Sudan\u2019s military, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has characterized an offensive staged in recent days by the paramilitary RSF as an \u201cattempted coup.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an attempted coup and rebellion against the state,\u201d Burhan told CNN by phone. He said that RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo had \u201cmutinied\u201d against the state, and if captured, would be tried in court of law.<\/p>\n
The sound of gunshots rang out in the background, despite an agreed-upon ceasefire at 4pm local time. Burhan claimed that for a second day, the RSF\u2019s leader had violated that agreed ceasefire.<\/p>\n
\u201cYesterday and today a humanitarian ceasefire proposal was put forward and agreed upon. Sadly, he did not abide by it. You can hear right now the attempts to storm the Army headquarters, and indiscriminate mortar attacks. He\u2019s using the humanitarian pause to continue the fight.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked about that allegation, a spokesperson for the RSF told CNN that the RSF was trying to abide by the ceasefire, but \u201cthey keep firing which leaves no choice\u201d but for the RSF to \u201cdefend itself by firing back.\u201d<\/p>\n
When challenged on why the Sudanese people should trust him, given his former alliance with Dagalo, Burhan told CNN: \u201cThe Sudanese Army is the people\u2019s army.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not owned by specific people or specific organizations,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is a national institution, which is tasked with defending Sudan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Credit-CNN<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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