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Sudan is in the throes of violence. Fighting between rival factions in the northeast African country over the past three days has left at least 185 people dead and over 1,800 injured, according to reports.
The current crisis in Sudan is being seen as a result of an apparent power struggle between two generals - General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the de-facto ruler of Sudan, who has the loyalty of the Sudanese armed forces; and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (popularly known as Hemedti), who is being backed by the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
CGTN's Sr. International Editor Abhishek G. Bhaya spoke with Sudanese journalist Awad Mustafa to get a grip of the ground situation in the embattled country. Mustafa is the editor of Dubai-based DefSec Middle East and a former advisor to the Minister of Information of the transitional government of Sudan.
Edited excerpts:
CGTN: What is your initial reaction to the deadly clashes in Sudan? As a Sudanese, what are your immediate concerns for the people of Sudan?
Mustafa: The reaction, of course, is shock; but the responsibility of this falls on both parties. The country right now is under nobody's control. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese armed forces are embattled in different regions, specifically in the capital (Khartoum), trying to seize full control of the situation.
As a Sudanese, I'm extremely worried because my family is there. I really do hope that some sort of agreement would come across right away.
We're losing power, (and) we're losing water. We have no access to medication or medical assistance. At the moment, airports are closed. You're basically there. And it is what it is.
CGTN: How are the Sudanese people facing the situation on the ground?
Mustafa: The Sudanese people normally are going to be more inclined to support the armed forces, which have been an institution for over 90 years.
However, the problems that are on the ground, the battles that are happening in the capital city, amongst residential areas, the people in humanitarian distrust at the moment make the public not side with anyone. People just want peace, calm and security.
CGTN: Is there anything that the international community could do in resolving the crisis?
Mustafa: For the international community, what we need to see from them is more action. Nobody wants international involvement in Sudan's issues; but what we need from them is the proper support. That proper support comes with sanctioning, threatening to engage on a personal level with the leaders of this crisis. Because if they're not going to listen, action needs to be taken. From the perspective of Sudan, and what's going to happen, the fear right now is for this to be an ongoing guerrilla warfare situation.
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