Hemedti: We Will Not Allow Sudan to Be Divided or Become a Terrorist Haven

The commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as “Hemedti,” reaffirmed in a recorded speech on Saturday his firm rejection of any attempts to divide Sudan or turn it into a terrorist hub.

He emphasized that his forces will continue fighting and will not withdraw from Khartoum or the Presidential Palace, which they have controlled since clashes erupted with the Sudanese army and its allied groups in mid-April 2023.

In his speech, Hemedti threatened to inflict heavy losses on the army, warning that the 17th of Ramadan—marking the anniversary of the RSF’s founding—would be a “day of regret” for the military. He also claimed that the army had lost 70% of its aircraft, asserting that the ongoing battle is taking place within Khartoum and that RSF forces will not retreat from the Presidential Palace or the Al-Muqrin area.

These statements come at a time when the RSF has lost control of several areas in the capital, as the army announced it had surrounded the Presidential Palace and was advancing toward securing central Khartoum.

Hemedti criticized the use of religion in politics and the groups fighting alongside the army under religious slogans, arguing that they do not truly represent those values. “They deceived us in the name of Sharia and instilled fear of secularism,” he said.

He also expressed his support for the new constitution signed by the Founding Charter Coalition in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 5. The constitution explicitly establishes a secular state.

The document paves the way for forming a government in areas outside army control and was signed by more than 20 political, professional, and civil groups, as well as the RSF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, which has significant influence in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions.

Hemedti described the Founding Charter Coalition as the largest political, military, and social alliance in Sudan, stating that it “unites all Sudanese under one umbrella for their just causes.”

These developments highlight the ongoing challenges Sudan faces in its quest for stability and unity amid escalating tensions between rival forces and growing fears of further chaos.