Sudan’s paramilitary RSF claims it seized police camp as fighting rages in capital Khartoum

The RSF posted footage of its fighters inside the camp belonging to the Central Reserve Police, some removing boxes of ammunition from a warehouse

The conflict between the army and the RSF has entered its 11th week. Ceasefire deals agreed at talks led by the US and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah failed to stick

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Smoke rises over Khartoum, Sudan on Friday as cashes between warring factions resumed after a three-day cease-fire expired. Photo: AP

Published: 2:05am, 26 Jun 2023

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said it had seized the headquarters of a heavily armed police unit on Sunday as it sought an edge in its war with the army during heavy fighting in the capital Khartoum.

The RSF said in a statement that it had taken full control of the camp belonging to the Central Reserve Police southern Khartoum, and posted footage of its fighters inside the facility, some removing boxes of ammunition from a warehouse.

Reuters was not immediately able to verify the footage or the RSF statement. There was no immediate comment from the army or the police.

Sudanese police patrol the main market of Wad Medani, 200km south of Khartoum, on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Since late on Saturday, fighting has surged in the three cities that make up the wider capital – Khartoum, Bahri and Omdurman – as the conflict between the army and the RSF entered its 11th week.

Witnesses also reported a sharp increase in violence in recent days in Nyala, the largest city in the western Darfur region. The United Nations raised the alarm on Saturday over ethnic targeting and the killing of people from the Masalit community in El Geneina in West Darfur.

Khartoum and El Geneina have been worst affected by the war, though last week tensions and clashes escalated in other parts of Darfur and in Kordofan, in the south.

Fighting has intensified since a series of ceasefire deals agreed at talks led by the United States and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah failed to stick. The talks were adjourned last week.

The Central Reserve Police has been deployed by the army in ground fighting in recent weeks. It had previously been used as a combat force in several regions and to confront protesters demonstrating against a coup in 2021.