Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as “Hemedti,” the commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), announced that his troops have withdrawn from the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, as a testament to their genuine commitment to achieving peace.
According to Sudanese Scene, Hemedti emphasized, “We chose peace and are not weak. Should the army opt for war, we are prepared to decisively conclude it, despite war being imposed on us.”
Hemedti highlighted the RSF’s victories in Omdurman and Babanousa in West Kordofan State, indicating expectations of further triumphs in the coming days. He addressed the Sudanese army, asserting, “Your aircraft and drones have been downed by us and will soon be eradicated.”
For nearly 10 months, Sudan has been engulfed in widespread and intense clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF across various regions, predominantly in Khartoum, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties and injuries.
The public discord between Sudan’s Sovereign Council President and the Sudanese Armed Forces commander, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and RSF leader Hemedti, surfaced following the signing of the “Framework Agreement” on December 5, 2022.
This agreement, marking the onset of a transitional phase, called for the military’s withdrawal from politics and the transfer of power to civilians.
Dagalo has accused the Sudanese military of plotting to retain power and resist the handover to civilian rule, particularly following the military’s demands for the integration of the RSF into the armed forces. The army, in turn, views the RSF’s actions as a rebellion against the state.
Despite efforts from regional, African, and international mediators to cease hostilities, attempts to secure a lasting halt to the fighting have yet to succeed.
