*
Powerful paramilitary RSF has mobilised in recent weeks
*
Fears of strife impeding transition to free elections
*
Civilians, rebels trying to mediate between RSF, army
command
(Adds comment by civilian figures trying to mediate, detail on
cause of escalation, nature of dispute)
By Khalid Abdelaziz Nafisa Eltahir
KHARTOUM, April 13 (Reuters) - Sudan's army warned on
Thursday of a risk of confrontation after mobilisations by a
powerful paramilitary group, underlining growing strains between
the rival forces and a potential complication in moves to
restore civilian rule.
It could spell prolonged strife across a vast country
already dealing with economic breakdown and flare-ups of tribal
violence.
The mobilisation by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) headed by
General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo represented a "clear violation of
law," the army said in a rare comment on a dispute that has
hampered a planned transition to democracy.
"These movements and deployments happened without the
agreement of the leadership of the armed forces or even
coordination with it," the army spokesman said.
"Their continuation will lead to more tension and divisions
that could lead to insecurity in the country."
The RSF emerged from militias involved in the conflict in Darfur which broke out 20 years ago, and has been accused of human rights abuses. It operates under its own legal code and chain of command.
The RSF joined with the military to overthrow long-ruling Islamist strongman Omar Hassan al-Bashir in a coup in 2019. The two forces then carried out another coup in October 2021. Relations between the military and the RSF have since deteriorated, forcing a delay in the signing of an internationally-backed agreement with political parties for a two-year, civilian-led transition to free elections.
The army statement advised politicians not to get involved in tensions inflamed by negotiations on the integration of the RSF within the military as part of the new deal. Dagalo, better known in Sudan as Hemedti, has said he regrets the coup and supports the U.N., Western- and Gulf-backed transition deal to help prevent the resurgence of pro-Bashir Islamists, a concern shared by civilian political parties.
RSF MOVEMENTS
The RSF began redeploying units in the capital Khartoum and
elsewhere amid talks last month, military sources told Reuters
at the time, prompting the army to go into a state of high
alert, particularly around the presidential palace.
The army's warning on Thursday was spurred by a movement of
RSF vehicles near a military airport in the northern city of
Merowe reported by local pro-democracy groups. The RSF said late
on Wednesday the repositioning of vehicles was part of its
normal duties in coordination with the regular armed forces.
Witnesses told Reuters that they saw a convoy of RSF
vehicles including armoured trucks enter Khartoum on Thursday.
Political figures issued statements on Thursday about
attempts to mediate between the RSF and army high command.
Three ex-rebel chiefs now in government posts said they had
reached out to army General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the
ruling Sovereign Council, and Dagalo, his deputy on the council,
in an attempt to mediate.
"We found both sides to be responsive," Malik Agar, Jibril
Ibrahim, and Minni Minawi said in a statement, adding that they
called on them to make concessions to prevent bloodshed.
Earlier, the head of the National Umma Party, Fadlallah
Burma Nasir, a retired soldier, invited the generals to a
meeting, imploring all sides to learn lessons from civil
conflicts in other countries in the region.
However, mediator sources told Reuters that while both
Hemedti and Burhan had been open to mediation, they had
remained intransigent in their positions.
The central dispute is over the leadership of the military
in the interim period before integration, with Burhan insisting
on the army remaining in charge while Hemedti demanding a
civilian to head the governing council.
Hemedti, who has amassed considerable wealth and expanded
domestic and foreign relations, has said repeatedly in speeches
that he wants no confrontation with the army.
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
FACTBOX-The struggle for power in Sudan ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
(Writing by Michael Georgy and Nafisa Eltahir; editing by Angus
MacSwan, William Maclean and Mark Heinrich)
