The international community gathered this Saturday to call for an end to fighting in Sudan amid a power struggle between the forces that have controlled the country since the coup that toppled Omar al-Bashir in April 2021. country, woke up to fighting between the army and the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The latter claimed to have taken control of the presidential palace and airport, but the leader of the army and the country, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, denied such claims. According to the United Nations, at least 30 people were killed and 400 injured.
The RSF, which will number about 100,000 strong, has roots in the Janjawid militias that fought alongside the al-Bashir government in the war in Darfur, which began in 2003 and led to allegations of war crimes. They are led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemetti), number two in the Sovereign Council that has governed the country since the coup that toppled Al-Bashir, who was in power for nearly 30 years. The council is headed by General Al-Burhan, who was said to be the target of Saturday’s coup attempt.
“If they are wise, they will withdraw the troops that have entered Khartoum”, the leader of the Sovereign Council told Al-Jazeera. Hemetti accused Al-Burhan of being a “criminal” and “liar”. And he added: “We know where you are hiding and we will catch you and bring you to justice or die like any other dog.”The military in a statement this Saturday evening removed any dialogue until the dissolution of the RSF.
Tensions between the military and the paramilitaries had recently risen over disagreements over how to integrate the RSF into the official armed forces. The lack of consensus led to the postponement of the signing of the agreement with the political parties, in view of the transition to democracy – which was interrupted by another coup d’état, in October 2021, which involved cooperation between the two forces.
Civilian troops, who signed a version of that agreement last year, have called for an end to hostilities. They claim the clashes will drive Sudan to the “abyss of total collapse”, deeming this a “critical moment” in the country’s history. “This is a war that no one will win and that will lead to the destruction of our country forever,” they said.
The situation on the ground this Saturday was confusing, with conflicting reports – starting with who started the clashes, with mutual accusations. The RSF claimed to have control over Khartoum airport, as well as the presidential palace, on which Al-Burham is based. But the military claimed to have “complete control” of both locations. A Saudi airliner was hit by gunfire as it prepared to take off, the Saudi airline said, explaining that everyone on board was safe.
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The international community united with one voice and called for an end to the fighting. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged both sides to “immediately cease hostilities” and “enter into dialogue to resolve the current crisis”. The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, called for “immediate de-escalation of the conflict”.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for an “immediate” end to the fighting and said he was “deeply concerned” about the situation. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the same thing: “The dramatic events taking place in Sudan are of great concern to Moscow. We call on the parties to the conflict to show political will and restraint and to take urgent steps towards a ceasefire. fire”.
Source: DN
