Fighting and explosions in South Sudan, where a civil war is underway between the regular army and the paramilitaries of General Mohamed Hamdane Dagalo's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) .

Paramilitaries say they have taken control of Khartoum 's presidential palace and the city 's airport . The fighting, which began in southern Khartoum, quickly spread across the Nile to the twin city of Omdurman, where residents said gunmen surrounded the state broadcaster's studios, reported the New York Times website.

The counter-offensive by government forces immediately began, destroying a camp belonging to the RSF with warplanes. "Clashes are ongoing and the army is carrying out its duty to safeguard the country," said army spokesman Nabil Abdallah .

At least three civilians were killed . The doctors union, in a statement on Facebook, said that "two people were killed at Khartoum airport" and a third in El Obeid, in the state of North Kordofan, south of the capital. At least nine other people were injured in the clashes .

The friction between the army and the paramilitaries has been escalating for months, with differences evident in recent exchanges and statements by both sides. General Mohamed Hamdane Dagalo, commander of the RSF and vice president of the Sovereign Council, had publicly rejected the actions carried out last October 25 by the president of the same council and commander in chief of the army, lieutenant general Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, calling them a "coup d'etat". Divergences had also recently emerged over the political process for a transition to democracy based on the framework agreement signed on December 5, in particular on issues of security and military reform .

Indeed, the leaders of the Sudanese army would like to quickly integrate the RSF into their ranks while Dagalo would like a schedule that could last up to ten years. The RSF also wants to undergo civilian leadership, a reform that the army rejects, and calls for the removal of all elements of the Muslim Brotherhood from the armed forces as a prerequisite for reform. Disputes between the two sides over these and other issues are delaying the signing of a final deal to switch to civilian rule that was scheduled for April 1 last year.

The rivalries between the two generals behind the 2021 coup d'état have therefore turned into guerrilla warfare .

And there is also shooting in Khartoum-2, the sector of the capital where the Italian Embassy is located . Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is following the story carefully: « Our Embassy is fully operational and has advised our compatriots to stay at home . The Crisis Unit is monitoring developments,” he said, appealing for dialogue and an end to the violence.

(Unioneonline/L)

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