Sudanese Military Warns of the Peril of "Popular Resistance" Outside Its Control, Reaffirms Commitment to Jeddah Talks
Deputy to Sudan's Chief of Defence, Shams El Din Kabbashi, has issued a warning about the dangers posed by "armed popular resistance" operating independently of the armed forces.
He stressed the importance of not allowing regular military camps to be exploited by any political party for promoting agendas that diverge from the national ethos of the military. This caution appears targeted at the organization of "Islamists" supportive of the ousted regime, whose battalions have been fighting alongside the Rapid Support Forces.
During a speech on Thursday at a graduation ceremony for military forces affiliated with the "Sudan Liberation Movement" in Al Qadarif city, Eastern Sudan, Kabbashi addressed army commanders with a directive to prevent members of the popular resistance from bearing arms outside of military installations and to collect any unauthorized firearms.
"The upcoming danger to the country will be the resistance," he noted, adding, "As much as the army needs this resistance, it requires discipline. We are working on drafting a law and issuing frameworks and regulations in this regard." He also called upon political powers to refrain from exploiting popular resistance camps for political sloganeering, aside from the banner of the military.
Civil and political entities have raised concerns over the creation of armed militias stoking the flames of war under the watch of the Sudanese army, with groups affiliated with the Sudanese "Muslim Brotherhood" participating in the ongoing battle alongside the military.
Deputy to General Burhan asserted, "The army supports any genuine call for peace, but it will neither halt the war nor engage in a truce," he added, "Eventually, dialogue is necessary."
Kabbashi reiterated the Sudanese armed forces' commitment to the "Jeddah" platform, mediated by Saudi Arabia, the United States, and other regional entities. He welcomed any national or international efforts to resolve Sudan's challenges, contingent on the Rapid Support Forces vacating civilians' homes through an agreed-upon mechanism including accountability and compensation for the affected.
"We will not enter into a political process unless the military dossier is closed," he stated, demanding the fulfillment of the primary demands in the "Jeddah Agreement" and subsequent developments on the ground.
He affirmed that the armed forces are at their strongest and are capable of decisively ending the war at the soonest. He denoted the war in Sudan as one fought by mercenaries and described the Rapid Support Forces as merely an instrument in this proxy struggle.
Kabbashi declared, "The armed forces will not be part of the upcoming transitional authority but will participate in the dialogue and political process to discuss sensitive security issues... This is a promise the military has made to the people and will not back down from."
The Deputy Commander also invited all political and civil forces to collaborate on drafting a governance document for the country.
Additionally, Kabbashi addressed humanitarian aid, ensuring that the Sudanese army "places no limits or restrictions on its entry to the country via ports and airports." He urged all armed groups not to hinder the passage of relief materials to those affected in conflict zones.
Meanwhile, the army continues its military operations against civilian and military sites controlled by the Rapid Support Forces across various parts of Khartoum, intensifying aerial raids on the Darfur region. In Omdurman, the military is advancing to widen its control amid fierce clashes with the Rapid Support Forces, as continuous skirmishes are reported in northern Bahri neighborhoods.
Local sources revealed to "Asharq Al-Awsat" the sight of dense smoke rising in the Kadru area amidst ongoing confrontations near a military zone affiliated with the army. Since Tuesday, parts of Omdurman have witnessed reciprocal artillery bombardment as the army attempts to breach areas under the influence of the Rapid Support Forces. The Sudanese army and its Darfurian armed factions allies are reportedly preparing for substantial military offensives against the Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum and the central state of Gezira.