Heavy fighting across Sudan has entered a second day as months of tensions between a paramilitary group and the country’s army erupted into violence. 

At least 56 people have been killed and nearly 600 injured in the clashes, according to the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors. 

Explosions and gunfire were reported across the Sudanese capital Khartoum. 

Paramilitary group ‘Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) claim to have seized the presidential palace and the international airport in Khartoum.  

“The Rapid Support Forces control more than 90% of strategic sites in Khartoum,” RSF chief Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo said in an interview with Sky News Arabia. 

Sudanese military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan disputed Dagalo’s claims and said the military has maintained control over government sites. 

Former UK Ambassador to Sudan Sir Nicholas Kay has warned that the situation could escalate further.  

“[The fighting] needs to be followed up now by some initiative to bring the leaders back from the brink, because this could get worse,” he said.  

“We do not want to see this spread to a generalised civil war.” 

Fighting began early Saturday morning following weeks of growing conflict between rivalling factions led by al-Burhan and Daglo respectively.  

Generals have been running Sudan since a coup in October 2021. Tension has grown following a proposed transition to civilian rule that would see the RSF integrate into the Sudanese army.

The RSF seek to delay the integration for 10 years, but the army said it should happen in two years.