In a recent address marking Sudan’s 68th independence anniversary, Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, the junta leader, strongly criticized countries hosting Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Commander Mohamed ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo during his regional tour. El Burhan accused these nations of complicity in the atrocities perpetrated by the RSF, referring to them as “partners in the crimes committed by these murderers”.
El Burhan emphasized that welcoming any Sudanese party not recognizing the existing government constitutes “clear hostility to Sudan”. He asserted the Sudanese government’s right to take measures preserving the country’s sovereignty and security. El Burhan condemned any country providing facilities to the rebel group, deeming them as collaborators in the crimes, killings, and destruction in Sudan.
Furthermore, El Burhan underscored that the only viable approach to ending the war is the withdrawal of the rebel militia from El Gezira and other Sudanese states, as stipulated in the Jeddah Declaration. This would encompass the return of all misappropriated public and government funds and properties, along with vacating private residences and government premises.
El Burhan emphasized that any ceasefire not guaranteeing these conditions would hold no value. He made it clear that the Sudanese people refuse to coexist with the perpetrators and supporters of these crimes. Elaborating on the peace roadmap, he underscored that it must encompass these prerequisites. El Burhan asserted that a peace deal which overlooks the dignity and will of the Sudanese people will not be acceptable, as they have united in resistance against the aggression.
Hemedti’s recent tour of the Horn of Africa saw him meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Kampala, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa, and Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guella, chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). These high-level meetings underscore the significance of the Sudanese conflict in the region.
