Sudan TV broadcast taken off air after loud bangs during military clashes

A live TV news broadcast from a studio in Omdurman was abruptly taken off-air on Saturday after loud bangs believed to be gunfire were heard nearby. It remains unclear what happened next.

The sudden end of the transmission from the state-owned Sudan National Broadcasting Corporation came amid clashes between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces following days of escalating tensions in Khartoum.

“Distinguished viewers, hello. Welcome from Sudan’s TV studios in Omdurman, the warmest of greetings to you all on this day, where we pray to God to protect our country from all evil,” the anchor was heard saying.

“We can hear the crackle of weapons and sporadic explosions, which alludes to an exceptional security situation in the capital. But here at the Radio and TV union, at Sudan’s television headquarters, the situation is calm,” he added before the transmission was cut.

The RSF has claimed to have taken control of the airport and Presidential Palace. The army has reported that RSF fighters are “attempting to seize the military headquarters”.

Formed in 2013, the RSF is commanded by the vice-president of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (also known as Hemedti), while the army is led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who heads the Sovereign Council.

Sudan’s capital Khartoum witnessed intense gunfire and explosions after several days of tensions between the armed forces and RSF fighters. Contested sites were reportedly the army headquarters, the Defence Ministry, the airport in Khartoum, as well as a military base in south Khartoum.

According to the Sudanese Doctors’ Union, a group of doctors reported that a minimum of 25 people were killed, while 183 were injured as a result of the clashes between the military and RSF. It is not yet apparent whether any of the casualties were non-combatants. The paramilitary group has reportedly been involved in suppressing protests and other forms of unrest. In recent months, disagreements between the army and the paramilitary have arisen regarding the proposed schedule for the group’s assimilation into the military. Various officials from the international community reacted to the recent fighting in Sudan. European Union foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell called on all forces involved “to stop the violence immediately.” The UK embassy also reported that it is closely monitoring the situation in Khartoum. TheGuardian