Sudan Fighting Today -- Latest Situation of War
In the 12 days since war broke out in Sudan, armed fighters with one of the military factions battling for control have occupied large parts of the capital, Khartoum, setting up roadblocks, moving into homes and taking over stores and hospitals.
Those residents who have not already, fled say they have had to learn how to survive living cheek by jowl with the feared, unpredictable troops of the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group that until days ago was part of a military-led government.
Civilians negotiate with RSF fighters, at roadblocks for safe passage, share food and water with them, and sometimes receive warnings from them about an upcoming battle, giving residents time to either bolt or run back inside and lock their doors.
The fighters, have alternately terrified and wooed civilians. In one neighborhood, a resident said, they handed out milk. In another, they invited community members to share in the spoils of their looting. In another, they turned vigilantes, punishing petty criminals.
Many residents try to avoid them as much as possible.
“Apparently they don’t have anyone that gives them orders so they’re just doing their thing,” said Dania Atabani, who lives in Khartoum. “Very dangerous and chaotic.”
the regular army have been combating each other, led by rival generals vying for power in Sudan, a northeast African country of 45 million people surrounded by seven nations. But in many neighborhoods of Khartoum and its twin city, Omdurman, across the Nile, residents interviewed by phone and text over the past week say the Army is nowhere to be found on the ground.
remains hyper-focused on winning Khartoum,” said Alan Boswell, the Horn of Africa project director at the International Crisis Group. “This is the ultimate showdown.”
In the first few days of the conflict, the RSF engaged in fierce fighting in Khartoum neighborhoods like Al Amarat, and Khartoum 2, close to the city’s international airport, occupying streets where there are many embassies and wealthy residents. They also set up checkpoints in upscale neighborhoods like al-Riyadh, where they placed antiaircraft guns in front of homes to target the circling army planes.