Addressing global leaders at the United Nations General Assembly, Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan, Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, has delivered a pointed critique of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). He underscored the RSF’s collaborations with local, regional, and global militias, and their recruitment of mercenaries from different corners of the world.
Detailing the havoc wreaked by the RSF since April 15, Al-Burhan described the war as a blight upon the Sudanese people. The RSF, he stated, has committed a series of grave offenses against civilians: from engaging in tribal violence, rape, and murder, to rampant theft and the wholesale destruction of both public and private properties, including vital infrastructure such as hospitals.
More alarmingly, Al-Burhan highlighted the RSF’s encroachments upon vital civic archives – land records, court documents, and civil directories. He recounted their looting of banks and businesses, coupled with the release of prisoners, some of whom have international arrest warrants and are known terrorists.
Stressing the severity of the RSF’s actions, Al-Burhan called them out for crimes against humanity and war crimes across vast swathes of Sudan. Their other atrocities, he noted, include sexual violence, ethnic purging, and brutal acts of torture.
On the global stage, Al-Burhan urged the international community to classify the RSF and their affiliated groups as terrorist organizations, advocating for a collective stance against their activities. He voiced concerns about the repercussions of the ongoing strife, cautioning that it has the potential to ignite broader regional instability.
Despite the challenges, Al-Burhan emphasized the Sudanese government’s unwavering commitment to peace. He highlighted their proactive response to peace initiatives, acknowledging the headway made via the Saudi-U.S. peace process in Jeddah, while also crediting efforts such as the IGAD initiative and the regional peace talks hosted in Egypt.
In his concluding note, Al-Burhan reiterated, “Our hands remain extended in the pursuit of peace, dedicated to ending this war and elevating our nation’s well-being.”
The ongoing turbulence in Sudan, intensified since mid-April, pinpoints a power struggle between the army led by Al-Burhan and the RSF, under Dagalo’s leadership.
