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Two generals clash for power: Sudan, the country that has not found peace for years

2023-04-17 17:57:04Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Two generals clash for power: Sudan, the country that has not found peace for
Civil war in Sudan

The fighting that has erupted in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum and beyond is the direct result of a fierce power struggle within the ranks of the country's military leadership.

There are currently clashes at several strategic points across the capital, as members of a paramilitary force, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and ordinary soldiers battle it out.

But what caused the fighting?

Since the coup d'état in October 2021, Sudan has been ruled by a council of generals, led by two military men who are at the center of the conflict:

-General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Armed Forces and acting president of the country.

-And his deputy, at the same time leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, popularly known as Hemedti.

They have objections to the direction the state is taking and the proposed move to have a more civil leadership. One of the main points where they disagree is the plan to include 100,000 RSF fighters in the army, who would lead the new forces.

Where is Sudan located?

Two generals clash for power: Sudan, the country that has not found peace for

The northeast African nation is bordered by 7 countries, including powerful countries such as Egypt to the north and Ethiopia to the east. It also has access to the Red Sea, essential for international trade. It was once the continent's largest country by area, until South Sudan gained independence in 2011 after decades of civil war.

Why did the fighting start on Saturday?

The violence comes after days of tension as RSF members landed around the state last week, a move the military saw as a threat. There was hope that the conflict could be resolved through talks, but the latter never happened.

It is debatable who opened fire first on Saturday morning, but since then, fighting has escalated in different parts of the country. At least 100 civilians are reported dead so far.

The Sudanese air force launched airstrikes in the capital, home to more than 6 million people, causing civilian casualties. A brief ceasefire was agreed between the sides on Saturday to allow the safe evacuation of civilians.

Two generals clash for power: Sudan, the country that has not found peace for

What are Rapid Support Forces (RSF)?

The RSF was formed in 2013 and has its origins in the notorious Janjaweed militia, which brutally fought rebels in Darfur, where they were accused of ethnic cleansing.

Since then, General Dagalo has built a powerful force that has intervened in the conflicts in Yemen and Libya. He has also developed economic interests, including control of Sudan's gold mines.

The RSF has been accused of human rights abuses, including the massacre of more than 120 protesters, in June 2019. Such a force outside the military has been seen as a source of instability in the country.

Why is the army in power?

The fighting is the latest episode in rising tensions that followed the ouster of President Omar al-Bashir in 2019.

For his ouster from the post he had held for almost 3 decades, there were massive protests and the army launched a coup against him. But civilians continued to campaign for the return of a democratic leadership. A joint military-civilian government was put in charge, but it was overthrown in October 2021, by another coup.

And since then, the rivalry between Burhan and Dagalo has intensified. A legal framework was agreed last December to return power to civilians, but talks to finalize its details have failed.

What do the two generals want?

General Dagalo has stated that the 2021 coup was a mistake and has tried to present himself and the RSF on the side of the civilians, against the Khartoum elites. While he has the support of some, others find it hard to believe his position, due to the brutal history of his paramilitary forces.

Meanwhile, General Burhan has stated that the army will only hand over full power to an elected government, raising doubts that the civilian representatives who will be elected will share power with him.

Suspicions are that both the military and their supporters are concerned about what might happen to their wealth and influence if they leave their positions of power.

What can other countries do?

There are fears that the fighting could further fragment the country, exacerbating political unrest and the conflict spreading to other neighboring states.

Diplomats, who have played a key role in their efforts to restore civilian leadership, are desperately trying to find a way for the two generals to sit down for talks. A regional bloc agreed to send three presidents from Kenya, South Sudan and Djibouti to the capital, Khartoum, but it is unclear whether they will be able to make the trip as no planes are flying into the country.

The UK, US and EU have called for a ceasefire and talks to resolve the crisis.

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