Sudan’s Sovereign Council Deputy chair outlines government’s vision for ending war
December 5, 2023 (GEDAREF) – – Malik Agar, Deputy Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, has unveiled the government’s plan to end the ongoing war and integrate the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) into the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
Addressing the coordination forum for governors of regions and states held in Gedaref on Tuesday, Agar emphasized the importance of establishing a unified national army that embraces diversity to prevent Sudan’s fragmentation.
He said that the government has adopted a roadmap to end the war, recognizing that conflicts can either end with military triumph followed by dialogue or through direct negotiation.
The roadmap, he elaborated, includes integrating the RSF into the SAF in two phases. The timing and details of this integration remain unclear.
Prior to the outbreak of war, a dispute arose between the army and RSF leadership regarding the integration timeframe, as well as command and control issues.
Agar elaborated on the roadmap’s other stages, outlining an initial phase consisting of eight unspecified steps, a humanitarian aid phase, a war cessation phase, and a political process culminating in the drafting of a constitution and subsequent democratic elections.
“The roadmap aims to end the war, establish a Sudanese state based on the rule of law, restore state authority, and draft the country’s constitution in preparation for upcoming elections,” Agar stated.
He asserted that the current conflict is not a struggle for the Sudanese people but a resource war orchestrated by parties that supported the RSF with the intent of occupation and settlement, “not for the pursuit of democracy as they claim”.
Agar revealed that he advised RSF commander Hemetti against engaging in a war against the army or underestimating its ability to prevail.
“I told this young man a long time ago that he should not underestimate the Sudanese army. I fought them for 40 years and could not defeat them, but we exhausted each other. You will exhaust the army, but you will not be able to defeat them,” Agar said.
He also alluded to Hemetti’s external support, suggesting that he is waging a proxy war on behalf of other forces, possibly referring to the Forces of Freedom and Change.
(ST)