Our team was in Khartoum as a power struggle between Sudan’s army and a paramilitary organisation known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) turned violent.

On April 15, violent clashes erupted between rival military factions in Sudan over tensions surrounding a proposed transition to civilian rule in the northeast African nation. The fighting is between army units loyal to the de facto leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Sudan's deputy leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti.

In Khartoum, the violence is believed to have caused the deaths of over 50 civilians on the first day alone, with residents forced to shelter in place as black smoke enveloped the sky across the city. Heavy artillery could be heard in the northern district of Bahri, as well as the city of Omurdan which adjoins the capital, whilst fighter jets could be seen in operation around Khartoum International  Airport.

Sudan has been governed by a military junta since a coup d’etat in October 2021 and it is believed that these latest clashes could potentially spark a third civil war in the nation, with RSF leader Hemedti stating that his forces would keep fighting until all army bases were captured. Likewise, the Sudanese armed forces have ruled out peace negotiations until the RSF is entirely dissolved, though a 24 hour ceasefire was agreed to begin on the evening of April 18 to allow for a humanitarian corridor to be created in order for civilians to evacuate.

Here is how we verified the footage we received from the Sudanese capital.