In a strongly worded statement released Sunday, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) expressed deep regret and condemnation for the Sudanese Armed Forces’ (SAF) leadership’s refusal to accept 537 SAF prisoners of war currently in RSF custody.
The prisoners, comprised of SAF members and other regular forces, were offered to be returned as a goodwill gesture during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but the offer was unfortunately turned down by army leadership, RSF said.
According to the RSF, this not only dehumanizes the captured individuals but also abandons them after their capture in battle.
The RSF leadership, in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), had ordered the release of the 537 prisoners of war. The ICRC, known for its impartial and independent humanitarian work, was involved in facilitating the process of adhering to international humanitarian law and principles, the statement said.
RSF statement said Initially the ICRC agreed to assist in the transfer of the prisoners, approaching the SAF to finalize the process.
However, the SAF leadership declined the proposal to return their personnel as a gesture of goodwill during Ramadan, as well as rejecting previous unilateral initiatives since the beginning of the current crisis, RSF said.
The RSF contends that the SAF leadership’s refusal to reclaim their personnel indicates a disregard for the welfare of their soldiers and officers. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his associates are also accused of prioritizing their own personal ambitions over the well-being of their personnel, viewing them as an administrative burden and aligning with extremist elements within the National Congress Party.
Furthermore, the RSF also underlined in their statement that the SAF Command’s prior orders to attack areas in Khartoum under RSF protection, where the prisoners were located.
These attacks resulted in numerous casualties, causing panic and dismay among the general public, according to the RSF.
Public statements from SAF officers condemning the SAF leadership further underscore the internal strife within the armed forces, statement added.
Sudan has since April 15, 2023 been plunged into a civil war pitting army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The conflict has resulted in a devastating toll, with over 12,190 casualties and the displacement of more than seven million people, according to estimates by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project and UN figures, respectively.
Mediation efforts have faced significant obstacles due to deep-seated animosity between the rival factions. Despite Burhan’s administration continuing to issue statements as Sudan’s government, Dagalo’s Rapid Support Forces assert control over Khartoum’s streets, Darfur, and a substantial part of Al-Jazira, once Sudan’s vital agricultural region.
