The Origins of the Conflict
Turmoil in Sudan – The situation in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, as well as numerous other regions, has deteriorated rapidly and alarmingly. The ominous soundtrack of explosions, skies filled with acrid, black smoke, and the relentless anxiety of daily life amidst bullets, rockets, and circulating rumors. Central to this conflict are two commanding figures: Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti, chief of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Both generals played key roles in the counter-insurgency against Darfuri rebels in the civil war in Sudan’s western region that began in 2003. Gen Burhan rose to control the Sudanese army in Darfur, while Hemedti was the commander of one of the many Arab militias, collectively known as the Janjaweed, which the government employed to brutally put down the largely non-Arab Darfuri rebel groups.
Rise to Power and the Military’s Role
The military has been running Sudan for most of its post-independence history. The government’s tactics in Darfur, once described by Sudan expert Alex de Waal as “counter-insurgency on the cheap”, used regular troops, ethnic militias, and air power to fight off the rebels – with little to no regard for civilian casualties. Darfur has been described as the first genocide of the 21st Century, with the Janjaweed accused of ethnic cleansing and using mass rape as a weapon of war.
Hemedti eventually became the commander of what could be described as an offshoot of the Janjaweed, his RSF. His power grew massively once he began supplying troops to fight for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. Sudan’s then-military ruler, Omar al-Bashir, came to rely on Hemedti and the RSF as a counterweight to the regular armed forces, in the hope that it would be too difficult for any single armed group to depose him.
The Fall of al-Bashir and the Sovereign Council
In the end – after months of popular protests – the generals clubbed together to overthrow Bashir, in April 2019. Later that year, they signed an agreement with the protesters to form a civilian-led government overseen by the Sovereign Council, a joint civilian-military body, with Gen Burhan at its head, and Hemedti as his deputy.
It lasted two years – until October 2021 – when the military struck, taking power for themselves, with Gen Burhan again at the head of the state and Hemedti again his deputy. Sudanese politics has always been dominated by an elite largely drawn from the ethnic groups based around Khartoum and the River Nile.
Hemedti’s Pursuit of National Prominence and Rising Tensions
In recent years, Hemedti has sought to establish himself as a national figure and even a representative of marginalized communities. He attempted to forge alliances with rebel groups in Darfur and South Kordofan, which he had once been tasked with dismantling. Despite his forces’ history of brutally suppressing civilian protests, Hemedti has frequently advocated for democracy.
As the deadline for forming a civilian government loomed, tensions between the army and the RSF escalated, centered on the contentious issue of integrating the RSF into the regular armed forces. This conflict ultimately led to the outbreak of fighting between the RSF and SAF, with Hemedti and Gen Burhan at the center of the struggle.
The Battle for Supremacy Begins
Hemedti, in his quest for power, has mirrored the strategies of the SAF top brass he currently opposes. Over the last few years, he has established an extensive business empire, which includes interests in gold mines and a diverse array of other sectors. This development has significantly contributed to the intensification of the struggle for dominance and control within Sudan, as both parties vie for supremacy in a nation gripped by political and military tensions.
Escalation of Conflict and Civilian Suffering
Burhan, for control of the Sudanese state. As tensions continued to rise, the fighting escalated, with disastrous consequences for the civilian population. Thousands of civilians have fled Sudan’s capital, and foreign nations are trying to evacuate their citizens, amid a fifth day of fierce fighting.
Witnesses reported people leaving Khartoum in cars and on foot on Wednesday morning, as gunfire and deafening explosions rocked the city. Meanwhile, officials in Japan and Tanzania say they are considering missions to evacuate their citizens.
Failed Ceasefire and Continued Hostilities
The Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had agreed on a 24-hour humanitarian ceasefire on Tuesday, but the truce collapsed within minutes of its proposed 16:00 GMT launch. A new ceasefire has now been put forward by the RSF for 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT) on Wednesday, but the army has yet to commit to the proposal.
Civilians began to flee the capital early on Wednesday morning after fighting resumed and Khartoum was enveloped in thick black smoke following explosions near the army headquarters. Witnesses in Khartoum reported heavily armed RSF fighters patrolling the city on pick-up trucks, while fighter jets loyal to the military conducted strikes on targets believed to be held by the paramilitary forces.
Evacuations and Challenges for Civilians
A shortage of fuel and a lack of public transport has seen many of those fleeing forced to do so on foot, with some seeking to get passage to central and western Sudan – where their families live – on flatbed trucks. One local fleeing the capital told that that the RSF had set up checkpoints on roads around the city and some of its fighters had robbed him, stealing his phone and some money.
Robberies have also been reported in areas of the capital itself. On Tuesday, residents of the Khartoum 2 area told the Somalista that the RSF militia had been going house-to-house in the neighborhood demanding water and food.
International Efforts to Evacuate Citizens
As the fighting intensifies, a number of nations say they have started preparations to evacuate their citizens from the country. Japan said its Self Defense Forces were considering how to evacuate some 60 Japanese citizens from Sudan, with a military plane placed on standby. Tanzania’s Foreign Affairs Minister Stergomena Tax told parliament that his government was also evaluating whether it was possible to evacuate 210 of its citizens.
However, the US embassy in Khartoum said “the uncertain security situation” in the capital meant there were no plans for a “US government-coordinated evacuation”.
Humanitarian Crisis and International Condemnation
The death toll caused by the fighting is unclear, but the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) said on Tuesday that at least 174 civilians had been killed in the violence. In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the US, EU, UK, and 12 other nations said the death toll had reached 270.
However, experts say the real figure could be far higher, with many wounded unable to reach hospitals that have reportedly been shelled. The statement – issued through the US embassy in Khartoum – also condemned “attacks directed against civilians, diplomats, and humanitarian actors” and said, “Sudan’s military leaders must engage in dialogue without delay”.
Read More Here :- Arab League Summit
In Somali
Dhawaqa rasaasta qoryaha daran-dooriga u dhaca iyo madaafiicda culus ayaa maalintii labaad waxaa laga maqlayaa guud ahaan magaalada caasimadda u ah waddanka Suudaan ee Khartuum.
Ururka ay ku mideysan yihiin dhakhaatiirta Suudaan ayaa waxay sheegeen in ugu yaraan 56 qof oo rayid ah lagu dilay dagaal u dhexeeya ciidamada iyo xoogag hubeysan oo ka soo horjeeda.
Dagaalka ayaa yimid iyadoo Mareykanka, Sacuudi Carabiya iyo Imaaraadka Carabta ay ugu baaqeen dhinacyada iska soo horjeeda “in ay si degdeg ah u joojiyaan colaadda shuruud la’aan”.
Goob-joogeyaal ayaa u sheegay wakaaladda wararka ee Reuters in hoobiyeyaasha qaarkood ay ku dhaceen guriyo ay degan yihiin dad shacab ah ayna ka dhasheen khasaaro dhimasho iyo dhaawac.
Sida laga soo xigtey Ururka Dhakhaatiirta Suudaan, 595 qof kale oo ay ku jiraan dagaalyahanno ay ku jiraanna ay ku dhaawacmeen dagaalka u dhexeeya milatariga iyo ciidamada gurmadka degdega ah (RSF).
Labada dhinac ayaa ku loolamayay awoodda dalka iyadoo kooxaha siyaasadda ay ka gorgortameen sidii loo dhisi lahaa dowlad ku meel gaar ah ka dib afgambi militari oo dhacay 2021-ka.
Ciidamada milateriga waxaa madaxda u ah General Abdel Fattah al-Burhaan halka xoogaga hubeysan ee RSF oo uu hogaamiyo Jeneraal Maxamed Xamdaan Dagalo. Labada nin waxay wada rideen nidaamka Al-Bashiir.
