The commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Tuesday that his forces would relinquish the administration of Wad Madani city and Al Jazirah state in central Sudan to local elders and leaders.
In a statement published on the “X” platform, RSF commander Hemeti confirmed that the Rapid Support Forces are “fully prepared to do everything necessary to enable and cooperate with the true revolutionary democratic forces to form a foundational transitional government from civilian powers,” as reported by the Arab World News Agency. He added that the RSF aims “to build a new state in Sudan based on foundational principles, the most important of which is the establishment of a new, professional national army that does not intervene in politics and is completely subject to the civilian government.”
Hemeti emphasized that the RSF would not replace the Sudanese army and has no intention of doing so. A statement from the RSF in Sudan today reported that the forces have reinforced their presence in several areas of Al Jazirah state and have taken control of the headquarters of the First Infantry Division of the army in Wad Madani city.
The statement urged the residents of Al Jazirah state to immediately start forming civilian committees to manage their state and encouraged all displaced persons from Al Jazirah to return, assuring, “We will work to maintain their protection to ensure their stability and secure the delivery of humanitarian aid by facilitating the entry of organizations working in the humanitarian field,” as mentioned by the Arab World News Agency.
The statement noted that the army’s positions and its absolute rejection of any calls for peace prompted the RSF to reinforce its presence in several areas of Al Jazirah state.
“Our forces have no desire to replace the Sudanese army, but there is an urgent and necessary need to rebuild it on new foundations that distance it from politics, to be an army for all Sudanese, not for a party or entity,” it added.
Earlier today, eyewitnesses and a source from the Rapid Support Forces told the Arab World News Agency that the RSF penetrated into the heart of Wad Madani city, the capital of Al Jazirah state in central Sudan, last night after crossing the Hantoub bridge from the eastern bank of the Blue Nile to the west.
The source informed the agency that the RSF took control this morning (Tuesday) of the headquarters of the Al Jazirah state government secretariat, the First Infantry Division, and the state army command headquarters.
The RSF has reportedly established full control over Wad Madani city, setting up checkpoints at the city’s entrances and deploying in neighborhoods leading to the neighboring Sennar state in the southeast of the country.
The source mentioned that the army forces retreated to Sennar state after violent clashes last night that continued until the early morning hours, which was confirmed by witnesses who reported fierce fighting between the army and the RSF in the southern and western neighborhoods of Wad Madani city.
No comment has been issued from the army regarding the RSF’s control over its headquarters in Wad Madani city.
