Fighting between the army and paramilitaries which broke out across Sudan on Saturday has left at least 56 civilians and “dozens” of security forces dead, a doctors’ organisation reported on Sunday morning.
“The total number of dead civilians has reached 56,” said the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, an independent, pro-democracy organisation. It added that around 600 people had been wounded by the fighting thus far — a figure which includes both civilians and security forces.
The group also noted that many of those injured could not be taken to hospital because of travel difficulties caused by the clashes.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) — a paramilitary organisation consisting of thousands of ex-militia from the Darfur war — claimed that they now control the presidential residence, Khartoum airport and other key infrastructure.
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The army denies the seizure of the airport but acknowledges that the RSF “set fire to civilian aircraft there, including one from Saudi Airlines,” which the company has confirmed.
In a statement issued late on Saturday, the Sudanese army urged the population to stay home as it continued its air strikes against paramilitary bases.
The Arab League announced an emergency meeting on Sunday about the situation in Sudan at the request of Egypt and Saudi Arabia: two key allies of the Sudanese army.
