A statement from the Sudanese Armed Forces today, Tuesday, reported that its forces thwarted a “desperate attempt” by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to escape from the siege imposed on them by the armed forces in the vicinity of the lieutenants’ area and the radio station in Omdurman in the early hours of the morning.
The statement issued by the office of the official spokesperson for the armed forces added that most of the fleeing force was eliminated, their equipment and vehicles were destroyed, and our forces have taken control of most of their equipment and vehicles, with “enemy losses currently being counted.”
The statement also mentioned that another group trying to support the fleeing militia force from the west was destroyed, and small groups attempting to escape through the alleys of Omdurman are currently being dealt with.
Lt. Gen. Yasser Al-Atta, the assistant to the commander-in-chief of the Sudanese Army, stated that there will be no ceasefire in Sudan during Ramadan unless the semi-military Rapid Support Forces leave civilian sites.
This came in a statement following the army’s announcement of its forces’ advancement in Omdurman and the call by the United Nations Security Council for a ceasefire during Ramadan.
The Rapid Support Forces welcomed the call for a ceasefire.
Al-Atta pointed out in the statement, which was issued on the official army channel on Telegram, that there will be no ceasefire in Ramadan unless the Rapid Support Forces adhere to the pledge they made in May during the talks mediated by Saudi Arabia and the United States in Jeddah to withdraw from houses and public facilities.
The statement also emphasized that Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the commander of the Rapid Support Forces known as Hemeti, or his family, should not have any political or military role in Sudan’s future.
Buildings Destroyed
The war between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces broke out in mid-April 2023 amidst tensions over the transition plan to civilian rule. Both parties carried out a coup in 2021, which derailed the transitional phase after the overthrow of former leader Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
The army adopted a defensive military stance for most of the conflict, which destroyed vast areas of the capital, caused ethnically motivated killings in Darfur, and led to the world’s largest displacement wave. The Rapid Support Forces took control of vast areas of the capital in the early days of the fighting.
However, the army recently regained control of some areas in Omdurman, which, along with Khartoum and Bahri, form the wider capital area.
Humanitarian Crisis
The Rapid Support Forces stated in a declaration on Sunday that the army refused their offer to hand over 537 prisoners of war held by them to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The statement condemned and expressed regret over the situation within the armed forces to the extent that its leadership refuses to receive 537 prisoners from its personnel and other regular forces in their custody as a gesture of goodwill coinciding with the onset of the holy month of Ramadan.
The army stated that it had not received any contact from the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding this offer and described the Rapid Support Forces’ claims as “lies.”
Several international attempts to mediate a ceasefire agreement have failed.
The United Nations says nearly 25 million people, half of Sudan’s population, need assistance. About eight million have fled their homes amid increasing hunger rates. Washington says both sides of the conflict have committed war crimes.
