Sudanese army captures South Sudanese mercenaries in Omdurman
March 14, 2024 (OMDURMAN) – The Sudanese army announced on Thursday the capture of 14 South Sudanese nationals following their recapture of the Radio and Television Corporation headquarters. These individuals were allegedly fighting alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
On March 12th, the army seized control of the headquarters after intense clashes with the RSF, who had held the site since the war’s outbreak.
A military source informed Sudan Tribune that “during the operation to reclaim the radio and television station, which served as an RSF command centre in Omdurman, the armed forces apprehended 14 mercenaries from South Sudan.”
He further specified that the captured group possessed expertise in operating heavy artillery and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Military intelligence is currently interrogating the individuals, with plans to present them to the media. This aims to substantiate the claim that the RSF, as the source referred to it, is seeking foreign assistance in its conflict with the Sudanese army.
In a mid-February report to the UN Security Council, a panel of experts raised concerns about the RSF allegedly securing a fuel supply line from South Sudan.
The report said that trucks transported fuel weekly from Juba to Wau, then used civilian Land Cruisers for further transport to Raja. Finally, the fuel would reach RSF control points in South Darfur through Kafia Kingi. The report also mentioned the involvement of local army officers in Wau and other cities but stressed a lack of knowledge from the South Sudanese government. Juba officials have also denied these allegations.
Also, images have circulated online depicting South Sudanese fighters in RSF uniforms engaged in combat against the army in East Nile, Sports City, and Khartoum Bahri.
The Sudanese army has repeatedly accused the RSF of recruiting fighters from neighbouring nations like Niger and Chad. These claims have been voiced frequently by both army commander-in-chief Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Lieutenant General Yasir al-Atta