RSF allegedly takes Egyptian troops hostage as Sudan clashes intensify

KHARTOUM, Sudan - Sudan's Rapid Support Forces [RSF] reportedly took hostage dozens of Egyptian soldiers in the al-Merowe airbase. Hemedti claims these forces were there to help the Sudanese military fight the RSF.

Videos whose authenticity could not be independently verified showed men in RSF military fatigue surrounding dozens of Egyptian soldiers as the captors held random conversations. The captors were addressing those held hostages in Arabic and appeared to be in possession of guns while issuing instructions.

These forces were stationed to support General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of Sudan's army, multiple sources claimed. Traditionally, Egypt has vehemently opposed the power transfer from Sudan's military to a civilian government, leading to animosity entrenching in RSF and civilians in the northern African nation.

RSF, formerly known as Janjaweed, are paramilitary forces who were accommodated by the administration of deposed leader Omar al-Bashir and there have been plans to integrate them with the national army. However, the question as to who they will be answerable to and their specific roles has been the elephant in the room.

Under General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the powerful paramilitary wing has been running independently from the national army and is linked to the deadly clashes in Darfur which party led to al-Bashir's tribulations with the international community. The forces killed thousands of civilians in the desert state.

But the abduction of the Egyptian army could escalate the conflict which is already out of hands and possibly, trigger reactions from Cairo, analysts say. Already, there is a standoff involving Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia on the controversial construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam along The Nile.

On Saturday, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo blamed the army for starting the turmoil and claimed the RSF is in control of 90% of strategic sites in the capital of Khartoum. The forces initially announced take over of the presidential palace and the airport within Khartoum, claims which were dismissed by the military leadership.

The stalemate over integration has intensified suspicions between the two groups subsequently, delaying the signing of the peace deal that brought political parties together. The latest conflict literally means Sudan will have to wait a little longer before ushering in democratic governance.

Since 2019 after the ouster of al-Bashir, Sudan has struggled to contain violence as tensions between the military and civilians escalated. Civilians have accused the transition Council mainly under the military of sabotaging efforts to reinstate democracy in the country, even leading to the unceremonious ouster of Abdalla Hamdok, the civilian Prime Minister.

Property worth millions of dollars was destroyed following the ugly clashes with Saudi Arabia and Sudan losing planes at the airport according to authorities. As a precaution, planes flying from the north destined for the south were forced to divert using the Red Sea route due to uncertainty in Khartoum.

GAROWE ONLINE