Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo on Sunday declared intent to bring an end to the conflict militarily “in the coming days.”
Dagalo’s declaration comes on the heels of a bizarre statement by army chief al-Burhan in which he declared that he would deny entry of humanitarian aid into areas controlled by the RSF.
The areas under the control of the Rapid Support Forces exceeds 25 million people and RSF in the past has repeatedly accused Burhan of obstructing passage of aid from his base of operations in Port Sudan.
RSF commander also conveyed in an audio recording on Sunday evening victories against the Sudanese army in Omdurman and Babanusa in West Kordofan state.
Dagalo commended RSF for its victories and urged “fierce fighting on all fronts.”
“We did not seek war… but as long as this is your choice, you must be prepared,” Dagalo said speaking to the commanders within the army.
Accusing the army of employing tactics and expressing a desire to prolong the conflict, the RSF leader asserted that the war would conclude through military means in the coming days.
RSF leader also called on all humanitarian partners and the international community to exert maximum pressure on army authorities in Port Sudan to fulfill its obligations under international law.
Dagalo, who embarked on a regional tour in December to advocate for an end to the Sudan conflict, met with IGAD leaders in Uganda to seek their support for a solution to the war but army in response pulled Sudan out of IGAD and closed the door on any peace talks.
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.
