Disputes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan ignited the airport of the capital, Khartoum, and the fire of confrontations affected civilian aircraft parked on the airport runways. The Sudanese army said in a brief statement that the elements of the rebel forces infiltrated Khartoum Airport and burned civilian planes. And Saudi Airlines announced that one of its planes came under fire at Khartoum Airport with passengers and crew on board, and the crew of the damaged plane was returned to the embassy in the Sudanese capital.
While sources at Khartoum Airport confirmed that civilian aircraft were burned as a result of the violent clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces. The sources added that the armed clashes led to the closure of the airport and the burning of some aircraft.
Video clips showed the burning of civilian aircraft inside Khartoum Airport, and military deployment inside the passenger halls and runways.
Earlier, the capital Khartoum and other Sudanese cities witnessed violent clashes with heavy and light weapons between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.
It is noteworthy that the "Rapid Support" is a combat force established in 2013 to fight the rebels of the Darfur region, and to protect the borders and maintain order later. It is affiliated with the Security and Intelligence Service, and there is no official estimate of its number, but it exceeds tens of thousands.
The differences between the army and the Rapid Support Forces affected the signing of the final agreement for the political process in Sudan, which was scheduled for April 5, before it was postponed indefinitely.
On January 8, 2023, a political process was launched between the signatories of the framework agreement on December 5, 2022, who are the ruling Military Sovereignty Council and civil forces, most notably the Freedom and Change Central Council, with the aim of reaching an agreement that solves the political crisis. The operation aims to address an extended crisis since October 25, 2021, when the army commander, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, imposed exceptional measures, including the dissolution of the Sovereign Council and the Transitional Ministers, and the declaration of a state of emergency.
Okaz (Khartoum) @okaz_online