Sudan army chief open to negotiations – but says his troops will ‘definitely’ defeat paramilitary group
The head of Sudan’s army has told Sky News his troops will “definitely” defeat an attacking paramilitary group, but he is open to negotiations.
At least 97 civilians and 45 soldiers have been killed with a total of 942 injured since the clashes between the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted at the weekend, according to activist group the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors.
Tensions have escalated since a power pact between the two sides crumbled and the resulting violence has seen members of the public caught in the crossfire, with the fighting spreading from the capital Khartoum to other parts of the country.
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Who is behind the Sudan violence?
Speaking to Sky News, army chief and de facto leader Abdel Fattah al Burhan said he was open to mediation as “every war ends at the negotiation table even if the opponent is defeated”.
He added: “Even if there is surrender, there is still negotiation.”
Asked if his troops will defeat the RSF, Mr al Burhan said: “Definitely. God willing.”
He was speaking from the military headquarters compound in the presidential guesthouse. He said the area within the compound was “fully secure” and “we are well”.
But he said there were “stray” shells being fired by the RSF who are “escalating” the situation in “nearby commercial and residential areas”.
He added: “We are holding back because we don’t want too many civilian losses in residential areas.”
Witnesses said bombardments and strikes from fighter jets rocked Khartoum, including near the military headquarters, and in Bahri, across the Nile River near another base.
The United Nations Security Council is set to discuss the Sudan violence on Monday, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the fighting, calling on both sides to stop hostilities and start talking.
“I urge all those with influence over the situation to use it in the cause of peace; to support efforts to end the violence, restore order, and return to the path of transition,” he said.
The humanitarian situation in the country was “already precarious” but it is now “catastrophic”, the UN chief added.
The RSF is a former militia group which had been due to merge with the army and its leaders shared power in a ruling military council.
Mr al Burhan heads the council while RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, is his deputy. Both sides said they made gains on Monday.
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Before-and-after images show impact of deadly clashes
Abdel Fattah al Burhan in 2022. Pic: AP
The RSF claimed it had captured an airport and military bases, while the army said it was in control of its headquarters despite what it called “limited clashes” in the area.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr al Burhan claimed his forces have “full control of all RSF bases in the 18 states and all of our airfields”.
“All the airfields of the armed forces are under the control of the armed forces.”
The RSF has posted videos showing its soldiers in Merowe airport, between Khartoum and the border with Egypt, and in a base in a southern district of the capital and in part of a military headquarters in the city centre.
The army has regained control of the main television station, which briefly went off air after gunfire was heard during a live broadcast.
The station started showing videos of the army destroying RSF vehicles, a day after the RSF said it had taken over the building.
Egypt is the most important backer of Sudan’s armed forces, while Hemedti has cultivated links with several foreign powers including the United Arab Emirates and Russia.
Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former “thug” and “pit bull”, has been accused of lying about a phone call he says he made to the former US president about payments to ex porn star Stormy Daniels.
Cohen, a lawyer who worked for the Trump Organisation from 2006 to 2017, has been giving evidence in the case about hush money payments to Ms Daniels – in an attempt to cover up an alleged sexual encounter in 2006.
Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, called into question an important detail – a phone call made by Cohen to Trump’s assistant, Keith Schiller, on 24 October 2016.
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Cohen, 57, has maintained that during that call he spoke to Trump (who was either given the phone by Mr Schiller or placed on loudspeaker – we don’t know which) and told him he had paid Ms Daniels $130,000 in hush money on his behalf.
But Mr Blanche called this into doubt – showing the jury a number of interactions suggesting Cohen was in contact with Mr Schiller about a different issue at the same time, namely that he was receiving harassing phone calls and texts from a 14-year-old child.
“That was a lie – you did not talk to President Trump on that night, you talked to Keith Schiller about what we just went through,” Mr Blanche said.
Cohen said that, based on his records, he believes he spoke to Trump about the Stormy Daniels matter.
“We are not asking for your belief,” Mr Blanche said. “This jury does not want to hear what you think happened.”
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Donald Trump in court on Thursday. Pic: Reuters
That exchange was part of several hours of questioning which apparently sought to paint a picture of Cohen as someone who is eager to see his former boss behind bars.
Mr Blanche played jurors audio clips of Cohen saying the case “fills me with delight” and that imagining Trump and his family in prison made him feel “giddy with hope and laughter”.
“Does the outcome of this trial affect you personally?” Mr Blanche asked.
“Yes,” Cohen replied. He is due to return to the witness stand on Monday.
Michael Cohen (right) was Donald Trump’s fixer. Pic: AP
Cohen worked as the former president’s fixer. He once described himself as Trump’s “spokesman, thug, pit bull and lawless lawyer”.
He once said he would take a bullet for his boss and admitted at the end of questioning on Tuesday that he “violated my moral compass” while working for Trump.
Hush money payouts are not illegal, but Trump is accused of falsifying business records to hide it – a claim he denies.
Cristiano Ronaldo has topped Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes for the fourth time in his career.
Spanish golfer Jon Rahm took second place following his switch to Saudi-backed LIV Golf.
Ronaldo became the world’s highest-paid athlete after his move to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr and Forbes said the 39-year-old’s estimated total earnings were around $260m (£205m) – an all-time high for a football player.
Jon Rahm came in second. Pic: Jeff Faughender/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
His on-field earnings amounted to $200m (£158m) while off-field he earned $60m (£47m) thanks to sponsorship deals where brands make use of his 629 million Instagram followers.
Rahm earned $218m (£172m) and joins Ronaldo as the only two athletes to earn over $200m.
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi. Pic: David Kirouac/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
Third on the list is record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, who switched to Major League Soccer team Inter Miami, which helped the Argentine World Cup winner earn $135m (£107m).
The 36-year-old earned $65m (£51m) in on-field earnings but $70m (£55m) off it from deals with major sponsors such as Adidas and Apple.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James came in fourth at $128m (£101m), while fellow NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks made fifth with $111m (£88m).
France football captain Kylian Mbappe dropped down to sixth with $110m (£87m).
Neymar, who also moved to the Saudi Pro League to join Al-Hilal, is seventh with $108m (£85m), despite sitting out the majority of the season with a torn ACL.
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French striker Karim Benzema, who also moved to Saudi Arabia, is eighth on the list with $106m (£84m), followed by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry with $102m (£80m).
Lamar Jackson is the only NFL player on the list, in 10th place with $101m (£80m), thanks to the signing bonus negotiated into his new Baltimore Ravens contract last year.
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