KHARTOUM: Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) reportedly shot at a Turkish evacuation plane as it was landing at Wadi Seyidna airport outside Khartoum on Friday.
The attack resulted in damage to the fuel system of the plane, but no injuries were reported. The Turkish defense ministry confirmed the incident, while the RSF denied firing at the plane and accused the Sudanese army of spreading lies.
The incident occurred amid escalating violence between the Sudanese army and its rival factions, which has led to hundreds of deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands of people in the past two weeks.
While the two sides agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire to allow for humanitarian access, fighting reportedly flared up in parts of Khartoum on Friday, according to eyewitnesses and live video broadcasts.
In response to the attack on the Turkish plane, the Sudanese army said that the aircraft was being repaired. The RSF, meanwhile, maintained its commitment to the humanitarian truce agreement and denied any involvement in the incident.
Turkish embassy in Sudan yet to issue statement
The Turkish embassy in Sudan has not yet issued a statement regarding the attack on its evacuation plane. However, Turkey has been closely involved in efforts to broker peace between Sudanese factions, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calling for an end to the violence and the restoration of democratic processes in the country.
As the situation in Sudan remains tense, with sporadic outbreaks of violence and ongoing political instability, it is unclear whether the ceasefire agreement will hold or if the country will see a return to widespread conflict.
