Hemetti says RSF are part of Sudan’s army, renews commitment to framework agreement
February 19, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Sunday said his forces are part of the Sudanese army, and renewed his commitment to the framework agreement and the integration of his forces into the national army.
Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemetti” made a statement in response to remarks made by the commander in chief of the Sudanese army Abdel Fattah al-Burhan saying he is committed to the current political process because it includes the RSF’s integration into the national army.
Even if his response as such is a clear indication of the rift within the military component, Hemetti avoided frontal attacks but started by regretting the October 25, 2021 coup.
“I sincerely desire to get out of the political power and hand it over to a transitional civil authority. This is something I made a commitment to with President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the leadership of the Sudanese Armed Forces, and I will never go back on it,” he stressed.
Without referring to al-Burhan’s fluctuating statements on the political process, he stressed that it is time to end this protracted process and reach a final political agreement paving the way for the formation of a transitional civilian authority.
In his latest statements, al-Burhan seemed supportive of the position of the Democratic Bloc which day after day develop new coalitions under the slogan of establishing a broad base for the transition.
While the camp of the signatories of the framework agreement refuses to drown the transition with those who are not supportive of the “slogans of the revolution”.
RSF are made to second the army
Hemetti further turned to the role of his paramilitary force which was established in 2014 to support the army in the fight the rebel groups across the country.
“The RSF originated as a supporter and assistant to the armed forces, and its law stipulates that it is part of them. The trenches brought us together with the armed forces to protect the homeland and its security, and we have covenants with them that we will never betray,” he stressed.
Having said that, he accused the Islamists of seeking to widen the gaps between the army and the RSF. and vowed he would not allow the former regime to drive a wedge between them.
In his speech, which aimed to cover the aspect of the political process, he reiterated his “sincere commitment” to the security and military reform processes towards the single army, and take it “out of politics and the economy completely”.
Applauses for Hemetti
The signatories to the framework agreement showed total indifference to the statements of al-Burhan saying he played an active role in the determination of the parties to the process during the discussions that led to the agreement.
However, on Sunday after Hemett’s statements, they broke their silence and praised his clear stance in favour of democratic transition and the signed political agreement.
“The civilian forces signatories to the framework agreement welcome the speech of the Commander of the Rapid Support Forces, General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo on Sunday, which carried important and positive messages at a pivotal time that the country is going through”.
They further said that his speech came at a time when the former regime is seeking to disrupt the course of the ongoing political process and prevent the recovery of the path of the civil democratic transition.
They called to escalate efforts to end the ongoing process and form a civilian transitional government
(ST)