RSF would not wage war against Sudanese army: second commander
February 26, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Abdel Rahim Daglo Second Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Sunday ruled out the possibility of fighting between their forces and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF).
Recently, the Sudanese army’s top leaders repeated regular calls to integrate the paramilitary forces in the regular army as they are annoyed by his dissonant statements against their position on the framework agreement.
Media reports said the RSF mobilized its troops in Khartoum State where new batches arrived from Darfur and other areas to the capital where their commander is expected to return in the coming days from the United Arab Emirates.
Addressing, his troops at the RSF headquarters in Khartoum, Daglo referred to the army commanders’ statements about the RSF. He said the media recently reported several statements aiming at distorting the RSF image and destroying their morale and pushing them to carry out reckless actions.
“The reason for this is because you are on the right track: protecting the homeland and defenceless people,” he said.
The second commander further pointed out the positions of RSF from the former regime saying its commander has a famous position before April 11, 2019, in support of the Sudanese revolution. Also, he added that he had a “great position” after the October 25 coup, and has supported the framework agreement.
“We will never change our positions and we will not back down from them. We are with the one army, we are with reform. This is a pledge we have made to the Sudanese people and we will not break it,” he stressed.
On April 9, 2019, Hemetti stated that his troops would never disperse the sit-in of the protesters outside the army command. His position encouraged other generals including the head of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) to oust General Omer al-Bashir on April 2019.
Since then he supported al-Burhan to get rid of the Islamist generals in the army.
The second commander, however, reassured that no clash would occur between them and the army.
“It is impossible for your brothers in the army to raise weapons in your face, or for you to raise weapons in their face. We are all one hand to build our dear homeland and return it to its normal position,” he said.
Before Daglo’s speech, the RSF troops displayed military vehicles, including heavily armed four-wheel drive vehicles and armoured vehicles.
On February 25, General Yasir al-Atta, a Member of the Sovereign Council, spoke about the need to integrate the RSF into the army. In addition, he said that its leader owns a private army to protect his business and economic activities.
(ST)