Sudan's RSF Leader Meets Civilian Politicians Amid Rising Concerns of Civil Strife
Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, held a crucial meeting on Monday with civilian pro-democracy politicians in Addis Ababa. This encounter is part of General Dagalo's foreign tour, taking place against the backdrop of his forces gaining dominance in a devastating nine-month war. General Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti, has been positioning himself as a potential leader in Sudan, a nation grappling with the world's largest displacement crisis.
Hemedti's recent visits to Uganda, Ethiopia, and Djibouti have drawn criticism, with Sudan's head of state Abdel Fattah al-Burhan labeling them as "acts of hostility." The RSF's expanding influence, particularly in the central and western regions of Sudan, has sparked fears of further conflict, leading to calls for civilians to take up arms and raising concerns about the possibility of an all-out civil war.
The RSF has faced accusations of grave human rights violations, including the killing of civilians, kidnapping, and looting, particularly in Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira State. The local pro-democracy resistance committee alleges that the RSF is responsible for these atrocities and has called for international intervention. The U.S. declared last month that the RSF had committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing in West Darfur state.
In a pre-meeting speech, Hemedti apologized for the violations in Gezira, asserting that the RSF leadership was taking action against "rogue actors." He urged the international community to view their struggle positively, framing it as a path towards Sudan's new future after achieving peace. The meeting involved discussions around equality and democracy, aligning with the long-standing aspirations of the civilian politicians present.
The civilian politicians, including former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, were ousted from power in 2021 during a coup led by the army and RSF, abruptly ending Sudan's democratic transition initiated after the 2019 downfall of Omar al-Bashir.
Sudan's head of state, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, emphasized on Sunday that those tolerating the RSF were complicit in its alleged crimes. He outlined a path to end the war, including the withdrawal of the RSF from Sudanese cities and Gezira State, and the return of looted property. Both Burhan and Hemedti have accepted invitations by the regional body IGAD to meet, although the details of the meeting are yet to be announced.
Amid these developments, the U.S. Sudan Human Rights Monitor released a report on Monday accusing the army of war crimes, citing the killing of 118 people in airstrikes on the western city of Nyala in late December. The situation remains complex and fragile, with international attention focusing on the need for a peaceful resolution to prevent further escalation.
