Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has issued a defiant statement, declaring that his troops maintain a robust presence in the capital and are prepared to continue the ongoing power struggle, which has now endured for nearly five months.
In an audio message shared on the platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Gen Dagalo, often referred to as Hemedti, reiterated his belief that the military initiated the conflict to facilitate the return of allies of ousted President Omar al-Bashir to power.
This marks a notable shift from his earlier statement on August 27th when he called for a negotiated settlement and outlined plans for the reinstatement of a civilian-led government.
His call for reconciliation was rebuffed by his rival, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who has consistently expressed confidence in the army’s capacity to overcome the RSF.
Gen Burhan’s frequent public appearances, including diplomatic visits to South Sudan and Egypt since late August, suggest a perception of military advantage in the ongoing struggle.
The military-led government has repeatedly urged the international community to designate the RSF, once their ally, as a “terrorist organization.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern over a recent meeting between an RSF official and Moussa Faki, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in Ethiopia, considering it a “dangerous precedent.”
By xamse
September 5, 2023
