Mohamed Dagalo, leader of the RSF, threatens to attack Port Sudan and northern cities amid heavy fighting in Khartoum. With the RSF having made significant early advances in the conflict, Dagalo’s rhetoric intensifies as he calls for uprising against the military. The ongoing war has led to severe humanitarian crises, widespread abuses, and lawlessness, prompting international investigations into both military factions’ actions.
Mohamed Dagalo, the leader of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has issued a threat to attack Port Sudan, the stronghold of the military-backed government, alongside targeting northern cities that have remained largely unaffected during the ongoing civil war. This announcement comes amid reports of intense fighting in Khartoum as the army and its allies inch closer to seizing key government installations. General Dagalo announced, “Monday is the anniversary of the creation of the Rapid Support Forces, and we will turn it into a day of regret and grief for the army.”
In escalating his threats, General Dagalo indicated intentions to march towards cities north of Khartoum, including Atbara, Shindi, and Dongola, allegedly to apprehend individuals aligned with the former regime of dictator Omar Al Bashir, now cooperating with the army against the RSF. Despite the conflict, the northern and eastern regions have experienced relative calm since hostilities erupted between the two military factions in April 2023. Early in the war, the RSF saw significant territorial gains, seizing key locations such as the capital’s airport and various government facilities.
General Dagalo has vowed to protect the presidential palace from advancing army forces and has implored citizens in the impoverished east to rise against the military. In Sunday reports, troops were detailed to have moved close to the palace, capturing several significant buildings, with videos emerging of celebratory scenes among volunteer fighters. However, analysts, including Osman Al Mirghany, remarked on the disjointedness of Dagalo’s recent address, indicating a deeper state of despair within his ranks.
The ongoing war has inflicted grievous consequences, claiming tens of thousands of lives, displacing over 10 million individuals, and precipitating a severe humanitarian crisis affecting over half of Sudan’s population. Reports indicate widespread famine, particularly in the west, which is predicted to worsen without urgent relief actions. Amid this chaos, residents in various regions have reported grave human rights abuses by both army-aligned volunteers and armed criminal gangs, leading to heightened lawlessness, particularly around Khartoum.
In response to escalating violence and lawlessness, military officials have called for security personnel to resume their duties in hopes of restoring order. Reports from residents highlight severe abuses in regions like Wad Medani, where civilians are increasingly vulnerable to violence from armed groups. Neighbors of Khartoum resident Hamed Othman reported enduring significant hardships in the wake of the RSF’s ousting, including rampant theft and lawlessness. Both the RSF and the army have faced international scrutiny for allegations of civilian abuses during the conflict, with ongoing investigations into war crimes and human rights violations.
The tensions between the RSF and the Sudanese military continue to escalate as threats of attacks are directed towards government strongholds. The situation remains dire as the civil war exacerbates humanitarian crises and causes severe civilian suffering. Amidst lawlessness and abuse in regions once held by the RSF, both military factions are under international scrutiny for their actions. Comprehensive relief operations and a return to law and order are essential to mitigate the escalating humanitarian catastrophe facing Sudanese citizens.
Original Source: www.thenationalnews.com
