Commander: Sudan's paramilitary committed to united army

Sudanese General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the deputy head of the military council speaks at a press conference in Khartoum. (AP)

KHARTOUM, Sudan - The Rapid Support Forces [RSF] of the republic of Sudan are committed to joining a united army for the country, months after accusations of widespread human rights violations by the group across the country, which is yet to stabilize since the ouster of Omar al-Bashir, the strongman.

General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo who has been working with military ruler General Abdeo Fattah al-Burhan, the man in charge of the 2021 coup which led to the collapse of the partnership between civilians and military, announced that integration of the local forces was critical on all fronts.

The RSF is Sudan's largest paramilitary group. It emerged from the "janjaweed" militias accused of atrocities during the early 2000s conflict in Darfur. The group is accused of violation of human rights since the ouster of al-Bashir but Dagalo has continuously dismissed the claims.

Progressive teams in Sudan have been pushing for the amalgamation of RSF to the main army, noting that their continued isolation from the main system is dangerous to the growth of democracy in the country. But in a speech on Thursday, Burhan said the army would only support the deal as long as it provided for the integration of the RSF.

"We are committed to the principle of a single military formed according to agreed-upon timelines, and we are sincerely committed to being involved in security and military reform," Dagalo said in a speech.

The framework agreement, signed in December, recognizes the RSF as a force alongside the military, police, and general intelligence. It assigns the head of state as its highest commander and also calls for its integration, VOA reports.

"The Sudanese military is a historic institution, and it will not be captured by any party," Dagalo said. "We are part of it and we will not spare any effort to defend it from anyone who abuses or belittles it."

Sudan has been unstable since the ouster of al-Bashir in 2019, with civilians clashing with the military over governance. Sudan, once a stable country, has struggled for stability, with the regional blocs calling for a ceasefire and admission of the civilians under the rule.

GAROWE ONLINE