Sudan’s army chief declares no end to war until militias crushed

The Sudanese Army has vowed to continue its campaign until the complete destruction of the Rapid Reaction Force (RRF), the paramilitary group engaged in a brutal conflict with the military since April 15, 2023.

The announcement was made by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairman of the Sudan Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, following a high-level command meeting, as per Turkish media.

“The campaign directed against Sudan and supported by arrogant states will be broken, and the Sudanese people will win this struggle,” al-Burhan declared, as quoted by the Sovereign Council.

The army chief emphasised that the authorities would bring to justice all those responsible for the “torture and killings” of civilians in the regions of El Fasher, El Geneina, and Gazira. He also expressed deep gratitude to the Sudanese people for their continued support of the armed forces.

Al-Burhan underscored that the army’s resolve remained unshaken, stating, “Those who fight for the people of Sudan will not be defeated. We reaffirm our determination to fight back the rebel armed groups and secure the borders of the Sudanese state. We will act with strength, determination, and firmness to destroy these militias and defeat them soon.”

Sudan has been gripped by intense fighting between the army and the foreign-backed Rapid Reaction Force since mid-April 2023. The RRF, which emerged from the former Rapid Support Forces, has entrenched itself in several key regions, particularly in the Darfur area.

El Fasher, the largest city in western Sudan’s Darfur region, has reportedly come under RRF control following prolonged and heavy fighting.

Videos shared by the group’s members have depicted scenes of extreme violence, including the massacres of unarmed civilians, acts of torture, and forced evictions that have displaced tens of thousands of people.

By Tamilla Hasanova