Conflicting reports about the president’s escape from prison

Amid fierce fighting in the capital of Sudan, conflicting reports are emerging about the escape of political prisoners from prison, including ousted President Omar al-Bashir.

According to Arab media, as a result of intense clashes between supporters of Sudanese generals, the Kober prison in Khartoum was damaged along with a large number of inmates.

Al Arabiya reports that authorities stated that due to fierce combat actions near Kober prison, disruptions to utility services, including water supply, and attacks on public and private property, they were forced to release some inmates to move to safer locations. However, they claimed that political prisoners are still being held in the prison.

However, some media outlets circulated videos of the prisoners’ escape and reported that when rockets hit some buildings of Kober prison, a large number of political prisoners, including ousted President Omar al-Bashir, managed to escape from the prison.

The conflict between the generals began in mid-April. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, commander of the Sudanese army and head of the Sovereign Council of Sudan, decided to integrate the Rapid Support Forces into the structure of the Sudanese army. However, this did not sit well with General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemeti, who commands the Rapid Support Forces, as this move would strip Hemeti of power and influence. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan insisted on an expedited process and proposed to complete it within two years. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo planned to finish the process on his terms and over 10 years.