The head of Sudan's Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has announced that the only path to cease the warfare against the Rapid Support Forces involves their withdrawal from Al Gezira state, central regions, and other cities. This includes the return of looted property and the vacating of citizens' homes.
In a television speech commemorating Sudan's 68th Independence Day from British colonial rule on January 1, 1956, Burhan emphasized that there are escalating calls for an end to the war and a move towards negotiation. He pointed out, however, that militias and mercenaries under the command of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo continue to sabotage the state's infrastructure, commit murder against citizens, rob them of their wealth, seize their homes, violate their sanctity, displace them from their original residences, and carry out ethnic cleansing and genocide in collaboration with traitors and power-seekers.
Burhan also mentioned that some regional and international states are providing support to the "Hemedti" forces under the guise of false pretenses despite documented evidence of these forces committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, recognized by countries around the world and international organizations.
He further stated that any ceasefire agreement that does not ensure the fulfillment of the mentioned conditions is worthless, as the Sudanese people will not accept living among these murderers and criminals and those who have supported them.
Previous negotiations between representatives of the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in Jeddah in May resulted in the first agreement known as the "Jeddah Declaration." This agreement includes several humanitarian commitments and conditions, such as pledges of evacuation, abstention from seizure, respect, and protection of all private and public facilities including medical facilities, hospitals, water and electricity installations, and refraining from using them for military purposes.
Foreign Intervention
Regarding foreign intervention in Sudan, Burhan has urged the countries hosting the Rapid Support Forces to abandon them and refrain from meddling in Sudan’s internal affairs, warning that his country reserves the right to take necessary measures to preserve its sovereignty and security.
Yesterday, Hemedti met with the President of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, in the country's capital, after meeting last Wednesday with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and last Thursday with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Another meeting is expected to be held today, Monday, in Addis Ababa with the head of the Sudanese Civil Democratic Forces Coordination, Abdullah Hamdok, to discuss "ways to end the war through the negotiating track."
Burhan's speech coincides with Djibouti's announcement that it will host a meeting next week between him and Hemedti, following the postponement of a scheduled meeting on December 28, which was intended to discuss the ceasefire issue in Sudan.
As of now, the Rapid Support Forces have not released any statement regarding Burhan's speech.
Since April 15, Sudan has been engulfed in a war between the army led by Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces headed by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), which has resulted in over 12,000 deaths and the displacement of more than 6 million others, according to UN estimates.
