Rédaction Africa Links 24 with SudanTribune
Published on 2024-04-13 07:57:58
On April 12, 2024, Sudanese military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan addressed soldiers and officers in Omdurman, announcing significant progress in the restoration of the country’s defence industries, air force, and artillery and aviation systems. Al-Burhan expressed confidence in the armed forces’ ability to restore a major portion of their defence capabilities and declared that the battle against insurgency would soon be resolved in the people’s favor.
He attributed the recent victories of the army to the patience and strong will of the Sudanese people in putting an end to the insurgency. Al-Burhan highlighted the establishment of mobile combat units by the leadership, equipped to neutralize and suppress the insurgency. He emphasized that with the support of the people, the army would not be defeated, dismissing any dreams of disbanding the armed forces as impossible.
The conflict that erupted on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) arose from disagreements regarding the integration of the RSF into the national army. The disagreements centered around the integration timeline and the command and control structure, which were being discussed within a political process aimed at restoring civilian rule and forming a unified, professional army.
During the fighting, paramilitary RSF forces targeted weapons and ammunition factories in Khartoum, causing significant damage and leading to reports of looting by RSF factions smuggling weapons to neighboring countries. General al-Burhan attributed the rebellion and its allies, both within and outside Sudan, to an attempt to impose their agenda and seize power unfairly. However, he credited the Sudanese people and their army for prevailing in the face of these challenges.
Al-Burhan committed to an apolitical approach to organizing the Popular Resistance groups, emphasizing the need for transparency in their operations under the command of the armed forces. He also reiterated his willingness to engage in negotiations with the RSF, emphasizing the importance of establishing a clear process and format for these talks.
Setting preconditions for negotiations, al-Burhan stated that talks could not proceed while hostilities continued and civilian areas in various cities were occupied by rebel forces. He called for the withdrawal of rebel forces from urban centers to designated zones as a show of seriousness towards dialogue.
In conclusion, al-Burhan’s address highlighted the progress made in restoring Sudan’s defence capabilities and reiterated the army’s commitment to ensuring stability and security in the country. The Sudanese people’s resilience and support for the armed forces were emphasized as crucial factors in overcoming the challenges faced by the nation.
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