Civilians were killed following an escalation in the tensions between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudan’s army that resulted in sustained gunfire in Khartoum and other locations.

According to medical sources in Sudan, 56 were now declared killed and 600 injured.

Tanks blocked the road to the presidential palace and gunfire was heard from the vicinity.

The airport has suspended operations.

The RSF which has been declared a rebel group, say they’re in control of key positions in the country including the airport.

Tensions between the army and the paramilitary stem from a disagreement over how the RSF, headed by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo should be integrated into the military and what authority should oversee the process.

The merger is a key condition of Sudan’s unsigned transition agreement.

These tensions have forced a delay in the signing of an internationally backed deal with political parties to revive the
country’s democratic transition.

Aljazeera.