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Tensions have been brewing for weeks in Sudan. The two most powerful generals, who jointly orchestrated a military coup to derail the nation’s transition to democracy, some 18 months ago are at loggerheads
Tensions have been brewing for weeks in Sudan. The two most powerful generals, who jointly orchestrated a military coup to derail the nation’s transition to democracy, some 18 months ago are at loggerheads. Tensions between the armed forces chief, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the head of the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group, Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, erupted into an unprecedented battle for control of the resource-rich nation. Sudan has a population of 46 million.
It is reported that tens of thousands of troops are deployed just in the capital of Khartoum by both men. They are not inclined to negotiate or announce a cease-fire, despite mounting global diplomatic pressure. It is a deadly setback for a country at the crossroads of the Arab world and Africa.
Negotiations were underway for a return to the democratic transition that had been halted by the October 2021 coup. The armed forces and the RSF signed a preliminary deal in December with pro-democracy and civilian groups. But the internationally brokered agreement provided only broad outlines. Vexatious issues were unsettled.
During the negotiations to reach a final agreement, tensions between Burhan and Dagalo escalated. A key dispute has been over how the RSF would be integrated into the military and who would have ultimate control over fighters and weapons. Dagalo, whose RSF was involved in brutal crackdowns during tribal unrest and pro-democracy protests, also tried to fashion himself a supporter of the democratic transition. In March, he slammed Burhan, saying military leaders were unwilling to relinquish power. Analysts argued that Dagalo is trying to whitewash the reputation of his paramilitary force, which began as brutal militias implicated in atrocities in the Darfur conflict.
The clashes spread to other areas in the country, including the strategic coastal city of Port Sudan on the Red Sea and eastern regions, on the borders with Ethiopia and Eritrea. Fighting was also reported in the war-wrecked Darfur region, where U.N. facilities were attacked and looted. The U.N. says three employees with the World Food Program were killed in the clashes recently.
The prospects for an immediate cease-fire appear to be slim. Burhan and Dagalo have dug in, demanding that the other surrender. The intense nature of the fighting also might make it harder for the two generals to return to negotiations. On the other hand, the military and the RSF both have foreign backers, who unanimously appealed for an immediate halt to hostilities.
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he discussed the developments in Sudan with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Saudi Foreign Minister said he spoke separately by phone with Burhan and Dagalo, and urged them to stop all kinds of military escalation. The Gulf Arab monarchies are close allies to the military as well as the RSF.
