The Commander in Chief of the Sudanese armed forces, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, declared his refusal to engage in negotiations with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The decision, announced during a speech to soldiers in the Red Sea state of eastern Sudan, stems from allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity attributed to the RSF under the leadership of General Mohamad Hamdan Daglo.
General al-Burhan asserted that the RSF had been implicated in a series of crimes, spanning from West Darfur to various regions across Sudan. Addressing the gathered soldiers, he emphasized that the gravity of these allegations makes any prospect of reconciliation or deal with the RSF unacceptable.
The announcement comes in the wake of a recent agreement between warring generals to initiate face-to-face talks and explore the possibility of a cease-fire. The East African regional bloc, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), reportedly facilitated the agreement between the conflicting parties.
General Hamdan Daglo, the commander of the RSF, had initially operated in the shadows during the early months of the conflict but remained active on social media platforms. The RSF, originally formed as a paramilitary force, has faced mounting international scrutiny for its alleged involvement in human rights abuses and violence against civilians.
Despite the potential for dialogue facilitated by IGAD, General al-Burhan’s unequivocal stance against negotiations with the RSF adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing efforts to bring about a resolution to the conflict. The refusal underscores the deep-rooted tensions and the challenges faced by those seeking to broker a peaceful solution in Sudan.