Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF) today released a video it said shows Egyptian troops “surrendering” to them in the northern Sudanese town of Merowe. This came as clashes broke out today between the RSF, Sudan’s main paramilitary group, and the army.

There was no clear explanation for the presence of Egyptian troops in the city of Merowe today, but Egyptian and Sudanese forces periodically hold joint military exercises in the north of the country amid diplomatic tensions with Ethiopia.

The video shows several men dressed in military uniform crouching on the ground and speaking to RSF members in an Egyptian Arabic dialect.

Reuters could not immediately verify the video, and Egyptian authorities had no immediate comment on the matter.

Fighting between the paramilitary group and the army broke out in the capital this morning and has spread to several areas of the country including the city of Merowe.

A mobilization of RSF forces towards the Merowe military airport on Wednesday prompted a statement from the army on Thursday that described the RSF’s recent moves as illegal and said the paramilitary organization was overstepping the force’s duties, exposing long-standing disputes.

AG