Top advisor to commander of Sudan's RSF talks to Israeli media
4 Min Read
The political advisor says that the Rapid Support Forces would only negotiate a solution with parties not involved with the Sudanese Armed Forces.
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Smoke rises in Omdurman, near Halfaya Bridge, during clashes between the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army as seen from Khartoum North, Sudan April 15, 2023. (Reuters)
A top official in the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF) appeared on Israeli i24 news on Wednesday, as the military escalation entered its fifth consecutive day.
Youssef Ezzat, the political advisor to the commander of the RSF's Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, attacked what he described as "extremists", led by the army commander Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, saying that the operation Burhan's forces are waging is "large and involves many parties that are sponsored by an extremist organization."
He claimed that the paramilitary group is, "waging the battle with our own strength. We were ready for this battle. We were expecting it from the extremists. We knew that there was a coup targeting us and the entire political process."
On the possibility of a solution, he said that they [RSF] would "talk with personalities uninvolved with the extremists," adding that the future of Sudan "is not up to them."
Egyptian soldiers back home
Egyptian soldiers who were recently detained in Sudan have returned to Cairo after being held by the RSF following the start of military escalation with Sudan's Armed Forces one week ago, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported on Wednesday.
Our correspondent indicated that two Egyptian military planes headed to Sudan to transport the Egyptian soldiers, one of which returned to Cairo, while the other would follow it later on.
Read more: Over 5,000 Egyptian students stuck in Sudan, send distress calls
طائرتان عسكريتان مصريتان توجهتا إلى #السودان لنقل الجنود المصريين عادت إحداهما إلى #القاهرة.
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) April 19, 2023
التفاصيل مع مدير مكتب #الميادين في القاهرة محمد ناصر👇 #لهيب_السودان pic.twitter.com/bgANjL55kp
Earlier today, the RSF said in a statement that it would transfer the Egyptian soldiers, who were at Merowe Airport when the fighting began to Khartoum, back to their country when the circumstances would allow it.
"We assure the families and government of Egypt that the soldiers who were present at the Marowe military base are all well, are receiving the necessary care, and will be handed over when the appropriate opportunity arises amid the conditions the country is going through," the group said in a statement.
Read more: Sudanese army announces seizing RSF bases in 7 cities
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم#قوات_الدعم_السريع
— Rapid Support Forces - قوات الدعم السريع (@RSFSudan) April 19, 2023
تعلن قوات الدعم السريع، نقل الرعايا المصريين الذين كانوا في مطار مروي خلال الاشتباكات التي وقعت مع القوات الانقلابية السبت الماضي، إلى العاصمة الخرطوم.
نطمئن أسر وحكومة مصر بأن الجنود الذين كانوا يتواجدون في قاعدة مروي العسكرية جميعهم… pic.twitter.com/xK4ZACDK1K
Civilians pay the price
Thousands of civilians fled Sudan's capital Khartoum, which was being heavily bombarded by both warring parties today, as fighting continued for the fifth consecutive day.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 296 people have been killed so far, while over 3,000 individuals were injured.
Electricity outages and water cut-offs have made Khartoum impossible to survive in as civilians looked for safer places to take refuge as the battles across many regions of the country intensified.
Air forces and artillery from both sides bombed 9 hospitals in Khartoum. According to local doctors, 39 out of 59 hospitals in areas affected by the fighting were either inoperational or forced to close. Among the reasons for the destruction of the health facilities is the lack of equipment and medicine, medical staff being unable to show up, or facilities being occupied by fighters.
A US-brokered truce went into effect on Tuesday at 6 pm, but collapsed just hours later as clashes renewed between the warring rivals across Sudan who accused each other of violating the agreement.
The news continuing to come from Sudan is harrowing.
— Christos Christou (@DrChristou) April 18, 2023
Many people are caught in the crossfire… most wounded received by @MSF are civilians… medical teams are trapped by the fighting… power outages are threatening lives…
Read more: WHO condemns healthcare facilities attacks in Sudan
The eruption of violence came after weeks of deepening tensions between the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and his deputy, RSF paramilitary commander Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, over the planned integration of the RSF into the state's army.
That was a key element of talks to finalize a deal that would return the country to civilian rule and end the crisis sparked by their 2021 coup, which triggered a deepening economic crisis in what was already one of the world's poorest countries.
