Sudanese Army Chief Urges Civilians to Takeup Arms to Fight Paramilitary Forces

Albert Gonzalez Farran/UN
A displaced woman sits on a bed next to the remnants of her burnt house in Khor Abeche, South Darfur (file photo).
30 June 2023
Ghanaian Times (Accra)

General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Force, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, on Tuesday urged those who are able to carry arms to join the fight against the paramilitary forces.

"We ask all the youth of my country and whoever can defend not to hesitate or delay in playing this patriotic role in the place of his residence or by joining the military units to get the honour of defending the country," said Gen Al-Burhan in a speech broadcast by the official Sudan TV.

The army commander called on everyone to "be vigilant and ready to confront the existing threats to Sudan," a country he said is targeted by conspiracies, both internally and externally.

Gen Al-Burhan further announced a unilateral one-day ceasefire "on the occasion of Eid ul-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice," which took effect on the first day of the festival on June 28.

On Monday, Commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, announced a two-day unilateral ceasefire "in consideration of the Eid holiday circumstances and for humanitarian purposes".

However, the truce failed to stop the bloodshed in Sudan as heavy fighting continued between the two rival factions in the capital, Khartoum, on Tuesday.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the army and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, which have left over 3,000 people killed and more than 6,000 others injured, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry.

About 2.5 million people have been displaced inside and outside of Sudan since the conflict broke out, according to an update from the United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs last week.

Sudan's paramilitary RSF on Tuesday announced the release of 100 army prisoners before the Muslim holiday of Eid ul-Adha, despite continued clashes in the capital, Khartoum.

"In consideration of and respect for the human rights law, the RSF Command decided to release 100 prisoners of the coup forces," the RSF said in a statement. The decision came in consideration of the Eid holiday circumstances and for humanitarian purposes, it added. --Xinhua

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