susan stigant, director of africa programs at the us institute of peace, who has recently returned fromnks for your insights. thank you. we want to bring you some breaking news from mexico. six adults and a child have been shot dead at a water park in cortazar. local authorities say gunmen stormed the park. the statement from officials did not provide any insight into the possible reason for the attack. in india, a former politician and his brother have been shot dead live on tv. atiq ahmed, who's pictured here on the right with his brother ashraf ahmed, were taking questions from a journalist moments before they were shot. atiq ahmed was under police escort facing murder and assault charges. last month, the supreme court declined to hear his petition, in which he alleged there was a threat to his life from the police. to the uk, and 118 people have been have been arrested at the grand national — one of the most prestigious horse races in the world. they were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and public nuisance offences in relation to disruption. a large number of police had bee

earlier i spoke with the director of africa programs at the us institute of peace, susan stigant, who actually in sudan two weeks ago. could you tell that tensions were running high? yes, i was there the week before last. at that point it was clear that the tensions were incredibly high. there was a mobilisation of heavy weaponry, reports of mobilisation of additionalforces. and it was clear in the political negotiations that were going on, in an effort to form a new civilian government to end the coup of october 2021, that the parties were coming down to the really difficult issues, and particularly the question of the structure of decision—making and power and control, and the relationship between general burhan as the head of the sudan armed forces and general hemedti as the head of the rapid support forces. but the fear and concern and tensions were absolutely palpable at that point. so those tensions, as you described there, were palpable — the feeling that we were starting to come to what appears to be, at least, a pivotal moment. but perhaps for people who might not be entirely

joining me from washington is susan stigant, director of africa programs at the us institute of peace us. susan, can i stay with you, first of all? has been working with various stakeholders into down for many years. was there a point for you when the violence and the situation we have now seemed almost inevitable?— we have now seemed almost inevitable? ~ . ., , inevitable? well, we certainly saw the increase _ inevitable? well, we certainly saw the increase in _ inevitable? well, we certainly saw the increase in tension _ inevitable? well, we certainly saw the increase in tension over - inevitable? well, we certainly saw the increase in tension over the i the increase in tension over the last several weeks with the redeployment of the rapid support forces into khartoum, as well as tanks and other military equipment by those who done armed forces. i was actually in khartoum about three weeks ago now. and so that tension was palpable. we knew that some of the hardest decisions were being negotiated in the political framework, including the integration of those forces who would command