Sudanese military leader pledges to conquer 'insurgent forces,' dismisses US sanctions
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Synopsis
On January 17, Sudanese Armed Forces Commander Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan reaffirmed the military's determination to defeat the paramilitary RSF amidst external pressures, particularly following new US sanctions aimed at him. The SAF's recent reclamation of Wad Madani highlights their ongoing conflict with the RSF, which has resulted in significant casualties and displacement within Sudan.
Key Takeaways
- Al-Burhan vows to defeat RSF.
- Wad Madani recaptured by SAF.
- US sanctions target Al-Burhan.
- RSF accused of attacks on infrastructure.
- Conflict has displaced 15 million people.
Khartoum, Jan 17 (NationPress) The Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, asserted the SAF's capacity to overcome the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), even amid external challenges. Al-Burhan, who is also the chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council, delivered this statement on Thursday while speaking to a gathering of citizens and military personnel in Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira State in central Sudan, as reported by the sovereign council.
On January 11, the SAF successfully reclaimed Wad Madani from the RSF, which had held control over the city for over a year, according to Xinhua news agency.
He declared, "The armed forces will defeat the rebel militia," emphasizing that Sudan will not bow to external pressures, specifically in light of the recent sanctions imposed by the US.
Earlier on Thursday, Washington enacted sanctions against Al-Burhan due to his army's "lethal attacks" on civilians, shortly after imposing similar measures on RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, whose group the US accused of committing "genocide" in the Darfur region of Sudan.
Earlier that week, the SAF accused the RSF of conducting drone strikes targeting the Merowe Dam in Sudan's Northern State, resulting in a significant power outage.
According to the SAF's 19th Infantry Division, "As part of its ongoing campaign against military installations, essential facilities, and the nation's development projects, the RSF militia targeted the Merowe Dam hydroelectric plant with several drones after suffering successive defeats at our armed forces' hands on various fronts."
"The ground anti-aircraft defenses neutralized the attack," the statement continued, noting that some damage occurred, although no further details were provided.
The Merowe Dam, a major hydroelectric facility on the Nile River inaugurated in 2009, is situated approximately 350 km north of Khartoum and ranks among the largest hydropower projects in Africa.
Social media footage revealed a fire at an electricity transmission station responsible for distributing power from the dam to the national grid.
Witnesses reported that cities such as Merowe, Port Sudan, Omdurman, Atbara, and Dongola experienced power outages.
The RSF has yet to respond to the SAF's statement.
Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a brutal conflict between the SAF and RSF, resulting in at least 29,683 fatalities and displacing nearly 15 million people, both within Sudan and abroad, according to the latest figures from international organizations.
