Saudi Plane on Fire in Bombing Attack; Suspends Flights to Sudan
Saudi Arabia’s national airline Saudia, caught on fire at Sudan’s Khartoum International Airport on Saturday, ahead of its departure to Riyadh at 07:30 UTC.
This was due to the violent conflict that arose between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the country’s primary paramilitary group. According to reports, the RSF took over control of the Khartoum airport.
Following the gunfire and explosion on Saturday, Saudia has announced the suspension of all flights to and from Sudan until further notice.
Saudia said that one of its aircrafts had an “accident” at the Khartoum Airport, in its statement.
Gunfire and explosions erupted in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, after days of tension between the army and paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
According to a report by the BBC, the dispute arose over a proposed transition to civilian rule that foundered on the timetable to integrate the RSF into the national army.
The RSF, under the command of the vice-president of the Sovereign Council, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, wanted a ten-year delay while the army, led by Gen Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the head of the Sovereign Council, said it should happen in two years.
“At least three have died as Sudan’s army and a notorious paramilitary force battle with heavy weapons in the capital Khartoum amid tensions over a proposed transition to civilian rule,” the BBC said, adding that people are “sheltering from the clashes.”
