Sudan’s military chief visits recaptured HQ, vows to ‘eradicate’ RSF
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan visits key navy web site as WHO chief denounces lethal assault on hospital in Darfur area.
Sudan’s military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has visited the navy’s headquarters within the capital Khartoum in his first look there since authorities forces claimed to have damaged a months-long siege by the paramilitary Speedy Assist Forces (RSF).
Accompanied by high navy officers on Sunday, al-Burhan praised the “resilience and sacrifices” of troopers who defended the military’s Common Command for 20 months, vowing to “eradicate” the RSF and pursue its fighters “in each nook of Sudan”.
He additionally hailed the continued operations by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) elsewhere within the nation, together with in Omdurman, Bahri, and el-Fasher, the place fierce clashes have been reported in current days.
“Our forces are of their greatest situation,” al-Burhan stated on the headquarters that was recaptured final week after being encircled by RSF for the reason that begin of the battle in April 2023.
The announcement on Friday by the SAF that it had efficiently lifted the RSF blockade on Khartoum and took again management of elements of town signalled a possible turning level within the practically two-year battle. The RSF denied the military claims as “propaganda” aimed toward boosting morale.
Earlier this month, the military recaptured Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira state, which had been held by the RSF for greater than a yr. There are stories that navy forces have carried out alleged ethnic killings after taking on the strategic metropolis.
The RSF has been accused of committing numerous abuses – together with an allegation by the US that it has carried out genocide – in the course of the battle.
Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan, reporting from Khartoum, stated al-Burhan’s feedback on Sunday signalled that the overall was not fascinated about diplomacy right now.
“Al-Burhan made it clear he won’t be holding negotiations with the RSF, that there will probably be no reconciliation, and that there will probably be combating till the final insurgent is killed,” she stated.
“It’s not the primary time we’re listening to these phrases from the military chief, however regional companions and the worldwide neighborhood have tried to pursue a diplomatic resolution as properly. Common al-Burhan seems to go for a navy victory proper now, particularly since prior to now few weeks the military has been capable of regain management of extra territory.”
Assault on hospital ‘filled with sufferers’
The looks comes as the pinnacle of the World Well being Group (WHO) decried an assault that killed dozens of individuals at a hospital in el-Fasher within the Darfur area.
The assault late on Friday focused the Saudi hospital, the principle hospital within the besieged space. It was not instantly clear who carried out the assault. A neighborhood official stated the RSF carried out a drone strike.
Not less than 70 individuals had been killed and 19 others had been wounded, WHO Director-Common Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed on Sunday.
“On the time of the assault, the hospital was filled with sufferers receiving care,” Tedros stated in a submit on X.
Saudi Arabia condemned the assault as a “violation of worldwide regulation and worldwide humanitarian regulation”.
Native teams and worldwide rights teams have beforehand reported assaults on displacement camps and different services by the RSF which have killed and wounded civilians.
Greater than 5,000 individuals have been killed or injured for the reason that RSF began its try and take over el-Fasher final Could, in line with native authorities.
El-Fasher is the largest metropolis and has the largest practical airport within the Darfur area, stated Amgad Fareid Eltayeb from the Fikra for Research and Growth suppose tank. It’s the final main space within the area managed by the military.
“The RSF has been attempting to take el-Fasher with a purpose to set the scene for saying a authorities of its personal together with its allies,” Eltayeb advised Al Jazeera.
“What the RSF and its allies need is to completely take over Darfur with a purpose to set up a authorities, leaving Sudan with a mannequin much like what occurred in Libya.”
Eltayeb additionally expressed concern a couple of sample of assaults by the RSF since January 15 which have focused water dams, energy stations and oil refineries.
