Sudanese Govt Claims War Against Rebels at an End

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Sudanese government has said the war against the rebel group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), is at its end as major factors are now against the militias.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, the Charge d’ Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Sudan in Nigeria, Mr. Ahmed Omer Jaboul said the takeover of Al Jazeera by the Sudanese force was a major victory for the Sudanese Army, adding the condemnation of the activities of the rebel force by United States is a big plus to the people of Sudan.

He noted the President of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, is presently consolidating on the gains recorded so far by embarking on diplomatic visits to Mali, Sierra-Leone, Guinea Bissau and Sierra to drum support for his government and seek cooperation.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since over a year ago have continued to launch a conflict of unmitigated brutality that has resulted in the world’s largest humanitarian catastrophe, leaving 638,000 Sudanese experiencing the worst famine in Sudan’s recent history, with over 30 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, and tens of thousands dead.

Reports have shown that the RSF and RSF-aligned militias have continued to direct attacks against civilians, systematically killing men and boys – even infants – on an ethnic basis, and deliberately targeted women and girls from certain ethnic groups for rape and other forms of brutal sexual violence.

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in a recent statement while condemning the excesses of the militias, said: “Those same militias have targeted fleeing civilians, murdering innocent people escaping conflict, and prevented remaining civilians from accessing lifesaving supplies.  Based on this information, I have now concluded that members of the RSF and allied militias have committed genocide in Sudan.

“The United States is committed to holding accountable those responsible for these atrocities.  We are today sanctioning RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa, known as Hemedti, for his role in systematic atrocities committed against the Sudanese people.

“We are also sanctioning seven RSF-owned companies located in the United Arab Emirates and one individual for their roles in procuring weapons for the RSF.

“In addition, we are today announcing Hemedti’s designation under Section 7031(c) for his involvement in gross violations of human rights in Darfur, namely the mass rape of civilians by RSF soldiers under his control.  As a result of this designation, Hemedti and his immediate family members are ineligible for entry to the United States.

“Hemedti has wantonly ignored commitments under international humanitarian law, the 2023 “Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan,” and the 2024 Code of Conduct produced by the Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan initiative.

“This code includes commitments to allow the unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief and prevent war crimes such as sexual violence, which the RSF and aligned militias under Hemedti’s leadership have committed.”

Reacting to the US action, the Sudanese ambassador to Nigeria, urged other countries to follow suit and brand the RSF a terror group.

He said: “The allegation by American government that the militias have committed some atrocities like genocide and ethnic cleansing would go a long way in dictating the outcome of the war.

“This condemnation will have positive impact on the other countries to take the same step and take the same decision.

“The evidence against the militias has been shared by the Sudanese government to international organisations and agencies among them UN agencies and AU.”