Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces announced on Sunday that an armed group, taking advantage of the power vacuum created by the fighting between RSF and army forces in al Jazirah state, was terrorizing civilians and looting their property.
RSF said the armed group was “being tracked and dealt with,” and that RSF would not allow any violations against civilian population in areas under its control.
“Our forces are in a real confrontation with the enemy and the rebels at the same time, and they will carry out their full duty to protect civilians within their areas of control, provide them with the necessary services.”
The group also said it was closely monitoring mobilization attempts by Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan after the military’s quick defeat and subsequent withdrawal out of Wad Madani, capital of al Jazirah state.
RSF accused al-Burhan of trying to plunge the country into a civil war and criticized a decision by military intelligence to arm pockets of civilian population in an already escalating conflict
“We strongly condemn the operations of arming civilians by the Armed Forces Intelligence and the continued campaigns of arrest, torture and killing on an ethnic and regional basis.”
RSF also called on the international community to condemn the loyalists of Sudan’s former dictator Omar al-Bashir within the armed forces for threatening the unity of the Sudanese people.
“Our people are fully aware of the plots of the National Congress that aim to dismantle the country and divide it again.”
RSF said it “will continue the struggle to rid our people of this gang and work with the Sudanese men and women to re-establish the Sudanese state on just foundations that achieve peace, freedom, democracy and equality.”
Attack on oil refinery
RSF on Sunday accused Sudan’s army of carrying out a bombing on the Gaili oil refinery and causing its complete destruction.
“These deliberate acts of sabotage against critical infrastructure are a clear reflection of the former regime’s desperation following a series of defeats at the hands of our courageous forces, the group said.”
Sudan has since April 15 been plunged into a civil war pitting army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
Thousands have fled for neighbouring Chad and found refuge in overcrowded camps such as Adre.
An estimate by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project puts the war’s death toll at 12,000. Almost seven million people have fled their homes, according to the UN.
