Sudan’s military announces progress in restoring defence capabilities
April 12, 2024 (OMDURMAN) -Sudanese military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared on Friday that significant progress has been made in restoring the country’s defence industries, air force, and artillery and aviation systems.
Speaking to soldiers and officers in Omdurman, al-Burhan expressed confidence, stating, “The armed forces have successfully restored a major portion of our defence capabilities. The battle will soon be resolved in the people’s favour.”
He said the Sudanese people’s patience and strong will to end the insurgency are the key factors behind the army’s recent victories.
“The mobile combat units established by the leadership are well-equipped to neutralize and suppress the insurgency. The army, backed by the people, will not be vanquished. To those who dream of disbanding the armed forces, we say: this is an impossible dream,” he stressed.
On April 15, 2023, a conflict erupted between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This stemmed from disagreements over military issues related to the RSF’s integration into the national army. Specifically, points of contention included the integration timeline and the command and control structure. These issues were being discussed within a political process aimed at restoring civilian rule and creating a unified, professional army.
The fighting was intense. Paramilitary RSF forces targeted weapons and ammunition factories in Khartoum, causing significant damage. There were also reports of looting by RSF factions, with weapons being smuggled to neighbouring countries, raising concerns similar to those seen in Libya.
General al-Burhan emphasized that the rebellion and its allies, both within and outside Sudan, aimed to force their agenda and seize power unfairly. However, he stated that the will of the Sudanese people and their army triumphed.
Committing to an apolitical approach to organizing the Popular Resistance groups, which includes Islamists among others, al-Burhan stressed the importance of ensuring that any popular mobilization operates transparently under the command of the armed forces.
Renewing his commitment to negotiations with the RSF, al-Burhan made it clear that Sudan’s military rulers are open to dialogue. However, he emphasized the importance of establishing a clear process and format for these talks.
He outlined specific preconditions for talks, stating, “Negotiations cannot proceed as long as hostilities continue and civilian areas in El Geneina, Nyala, Zalingei, Khartoum, El Daein, and the Al Jazirah cities remain occupied. If the rebels are serious about dialogue, they must first withdraw their forces from urban centres and relocate them to designated zones.”.
(ST)