The Sudanese Army announced, on Tuesday, that they have executed airstrikes south of the capital, Khartoum, resulting in the death of dozens of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) members. This military action further escalates the ongoing tension in the region, which has been marked by violent clashes between Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces over the past three months.
The spokesperson for the Sudanese Army stated that the air forces successfully launched strikes in the Soba region and areas south of Khartoum, leading to the destruction of several vehicles and causing casualties amongst the rebellious militia, the Rapid Support Forces. These clashes, concentrated mostly in Khartoum, have resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths and injuries.
The conflict surfaced following the signing of a ‘framework agreement’ establishing the transitional period between the military and civilian components last December. The agreement, which approved the army’s withdrawal from politics and the handover of power to civilians, was signed by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese Sovereign Council and Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the Commander of the Rapid Support Forces.
Daglo has accused the Sudanese Army of planning to retain power and refusing to hand it over to civilians, in response to the army’s demands to incorporate the Rapid Support Forces under the banner of the Armed Forces. On the other hand, the army sees the Rapid Support Forces’ actions as a rebellion against the state.
The final political agreement to end the crisis in Sudan was scheduled to be signed on April 1st, along with the constitutional document on April 6th. However, due to discrepancies in perspectives between the leaders of the armed forces and the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces regarding the timeline for integrating the Rapid Support Forces into the army, the signing did not occur.
The article aims to highlight the escalating tension between Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, emphasizing the challenges faced in the transitional period towards civilian rule in Sudan. The recent airstrikes and ongoing violence are significant factors that continue to hinder the peaceful political transition in the country.
