According to Sky News, the head of Sudan’s Army has said that his troops “definitely” will defeat an advancing paramilitary force. However, he is still open to negotiation.
According to the UN’s envoy for Sudan, at least 185 people have died and more than 1,800 others have been injured in the clashes that erupted between the military forces and Rapid Support Forces over the weekend.
The tensions have risen since the collapse of a power agreement between the two parties. Civilians are caught in the crossfire as the violence spreads from Khartoum, the capital, to other parts.
Abdel Fattah al Burhan, the de facto and army chief leader Abdel Fattah al Burhan told Sky News that he is open to a mediation process because “every conflict ends at the negotiating table, even if you defeat your opponent”.
He said: “Even when there’s a surrender, there’s still negotiation.”
When asked if his troops would defeat the RSF Mr Burhan replied: “Definitely.” God willing.”
He spoke from the military compound at the Presidential Guesthouse in Khartoum. He said that the area inside the compound is “fully secured” and that “we are all well”.
He said that the RSF was “escalating” their situation by firing “stray” shells in “neighboring commercial and residential areas”.
He said: “We’re holding back to prevent too many civilian deaths in residential areas.”
Mr Burhan called the RSF rebellious and ordered its dissolution.
The army said that it would continue to airstrike until the RSF was pushed out of the capital.
Witnesses reported that fighter jets and bombardments shook Khartoum including the military headquarters and Bahri across the River Nile, near another base.
On Monday, the United Nations Security Council will discuss the Sudan violent clashes. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the fighting and called on both sides of the conflict to cease hostilities.
He said: “I urge those who have influence to use it for the cause of peace. To support efforts to stop the violence, restore the order, and to return to the transition path.”
UN chief said that the humanitarian situation was “already fragile” in the country, but now it’s “catastrophic”.
The RSF was a former group of militias that had been due for a merger with the army. Its leaders were to share power in a ruling council.
Hemedti was Mr Burhan’s deputy. Both sides claimed to have made progress on Monday.
Hemedti, on Twitter, urged the international community take action against the alleged crimes of Mr Burhan and called the army chief “a radical Islamist bombing civilians in the air”.
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Why has violence erupted?
Images showing the impact of violent clashes
Burhan told Sky News that his forces “have full control” of all RSF bases and airfields in all 18 states.
He added that “all the airfields controlled by the armed services are under their control.”
The RSF said that it had taken control of an airport and several military bases. Meanwhile, the army claimed to be in charge of its headquarters in spite what they called “limited clashes”.
The RSF posted videos of its soldiers at Merowe Airport, located between Khartoum, Sudan and the border of Egypt. They also showed their soldiers in a base situated in a district in the south of the capital, as well as in a part of a military HQ in the centre of the city.
The army has taken control of the main TV station after a brief blackout was caused by gunfire heard during a live transmission.
A day after RSF claimed to have taken over the building, the station began showing videos of army vehicles being destroyed by the RSF.
Hemedti is a diplomat who has developed links with several countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Russia.