Al-Burhan says political forces try to ignite strife between Sudanese army, RSF
September 6, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – General Abdel Fattah al Burhan Head of the military-led Sovereign Council on Tuesday warned political forces against attempting to drive a wedge between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
“We tell those who try to ignite discord between the army and the RSF that the (armed) forces will not direct their arms against each other. Also, they have nothing to do with them and no one is allowed to interfere in military affairs,” al-Burhan said in a speech to a military rally on the occasion of the anniversary of the Battle of Karri in Omdurman.
“They should devote their efforts to achieving consensus and forming governance structures instead of trying to ignite discord between the components of the security system,” he said.
“We want to make room for the Sudanese patriots to form a government,” he further said.
Al-Burhan’s strongly worded message to the political forces opposed to his coup comes as diplomats from the US, UK, Saudi Arabia and UAE struggle to bring the military component and its allied armed groups to agree with the political forces on the reinstatement of civilian government.
Al-Burhan’s speech was a direct response to statements attributed to Yasir Arman Chairman of the SPLM Revolutionary Democratic Current during a briefing with the Sudanese journalists on September 1.
Arman spoke about the need for the Sudanese army and RSF leaders to form a new national army to avoid any strife between the two bodies.
He said that the RFS can also serve as a “nucleus” for the new army, after taking into account the needed measures and procedures.
“Sudanese people must stand against any strife between the army and the RSF because it goes against their interest,” he further stressed.
Already on Monday, al-Tahir Abu Haja, al Burhan media adviser, issued a statement warning the Sudanese political forces against interfering in military issues.
“The conviction of the leaders of the regular forces to make room for dialogue does not mean that some of them could interfere in what they do not know about.”
In addition, al-Burhan spoke about unnamed parties that want to dismantle the Sudanese state through tribal fighting, regional wars and questioning the leadership and army.
“No one will be able to dismantle the military establishment, which will remain cohesive and strong with its unity,” he said.
The reform of the military establishment and RSF merger into a new national army that will also integrate the combatants of the former rebel groups is one of the issues that triggered a rift between the military and the FFC government.
The security reforms are part of the constitutional declaration and the Juba peace agreement, but it represents a redline for al-Burhan who still clings to his demand to give the army guardianship of the transition until the elections.
(ST)