NSG summary with links from 4-5 hours ago
Sudan’s Armed Forces and a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. The two groups have had months of tensions that hav even rapidly escalating, with the army’s declaration that the RSF’s actions are “illegal” seeming to be the final straw. Both groups accuse the other of having started the fighting.
Violence erupted last night in the country, with residents of Khartoum waking up to gunfire. Videos show both sides firing at enemy fighters, jets soaring through the skies, armored vehicles throughout the streets, and civilians taking cover. According the RSF, they have control over the presidential palace, the state TV station, the army chief’s residence and Khartoum’s main airport, Khartoum International. The RSF also claims to have taken Egyptian soldiers in Northern Sudan captive, with a video purporting to show it. The fighting has left at least 3 civilians dead and dozens wounded, led to condemnation from the UN, and left US embassy staff huddling inside the building.
The Northeast African nation has been in a precarious situation ever since a popular uprising in 2019 ousted Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir. Civilian rule was quickly ended when the Sudanese military and RSF took power in a 2021 coup. They promised to return the country to civilian rule (which since has not happened) but protests erupted almost immediately, with the RSF being accused of killing hundreds and abusing many more during the demonstrations.
Sudan also faces the problem of ethnic tensions. Many non-Arabs feel as if Afro-Arabs are treated better than other groups, and groups such as the Hausa, Fulani & Bargo (often collectively referred to as “Hausawa” or “Fallata”) are often discriminated against, as they’re descendants of West Africans who came to Sudan to help fight the British, as well as Makkah-bound pilgrims who settled in Sudan on their way to or from the Hijaz. Recently, Hausas were attacked by members of the Berti ethnic group who believed the Hausa were gaining too much autonomy, sparking protests and riots from Hausas across Sudan.
Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2023/04/15/1170249456/gunfire-and-explosions-erupt-across-sudans-capital-as-military-rivals-clashhttps://www.cnn.com/urlfrica/live-news/sudan-army-paramilitary-palace-news-04-15-23https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-62175714https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2023/4/15/%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%82%D9%84%D9%82-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AAhttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/4/15/sudan-unrest-live-news-explosions-shooting-rock-khartoum
