KHARTOUM: Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has called for talks to bring peace to Sudan as fighting continues with Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Saturday.
The fighting between the Sudanese army and RSF broke out a week ago, killing at least 413 people and wounding 3,551, according to the World Health Organization.
In an interview with Al Arabiya Television, al-Burhan said the major loser in this war is the Sudanese people and that all Sudanese need to sit together and find a way out to restore hope and life.
He added that the living conditions in Sudan are deteriorating and that the international community shares their concerns towards the Sudanese citizens.
Al-Burhan has accused the RSF of being responsible for starting the attack and has stated that the army has launched a counteroffensive. He also claimed that the RSF has put civilians in danger by using them as “human shields” by positioning themselves in residential areas of Khartoum.
Al-Burhan accused the RSF of attacking shops, banks, and government buildings. The army has taken control of almost all the airports in the country, with the exception of Khartoum International Airport and Nyala airport.
Reasons behind Sudan’s fighting
According to Al-Burhan, the crisis has been caused by attempts to integrate the RSF into the army. However, the army is committed to achieving this integration and completing the transition to a civilian government. Al-Burhan stated that the army wants to reduce tensions and preserve Sudan’s progress.
On Saturday, Al-Burhan said that the army is working with other countries to evacuate foreign nationals. Despite a ceasefire agreement for the Eid Al-Fitr holidays, there were reports of gunfire and air strikes in Khartoum.
The RSF leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (also known as Hemedti), claimed that he had spoken to France’s foreign minister Catherine Colonna and reaffirmed his commitment to the ceasefire. He also discussed with her the facilitation of foreign evacuations.
The situation in Sudan remains tense, and the government and RSF must heed the call for dialogue and de-escalation by the army chief to prevent further loss of lives and destruction of property.
