El Geneina, March 16( Darfur 24)
Commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti), threatened a military escalation on all fronts on the anniversary of the Rapid Support Forces’ founding, which falls on the 17th of Ramadan.
In a video address broadcast on his Telegram channel, Hemeti called for Monday to be made a “special day” because it coincides with the anniversary of the Rapid Support Forces’ founding, and for it to be “a day of regret and remorse for them”—referring to the army and its allied forces.
He said that the war broke out two years ago in Khartoum, “and we will not leave the palace, the headquarters, and Khartoum,” emphasizing that the Rapid Support Forces now possess political and military alliances.
He added, “The next phase is different, and the fighting will be from every deep ravine,” threatening Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan with reaching him in the eastern Sudanese city of Port Sudan.
Hemeti welcomed what he called the military and civilian partners in the Sudan Founding Alliance, announcing his support for the steps taken to sign the Founding Charter and the Transitional Constitution.
He stated that there was a plan to separate Sudan on racial grounds, similar to South Sudan, and called on the new alliance to achieve the country’s interests and not divide it.
Hemeti emphasized that there is no army in Sudan, but rather a “scapegoat” under which hundreds of companies and businesses operate, explaining that it has “become a battalion.”
He revealed that they had identified sleeper cells working to create strife in Darfur and Kordofan, calling on the Sudanese to be wary of such strife, directing his forces to imprison any criminals.
Hemeti stated that the army had lost 70 to 80% of its air fleet, pledging to destroy the remaining aircraft and disable drones.
The Rapid Support Forces were able to shoot down several warplanes during raids on various locations in Khartoum, North Darfur, and South Darfur.
Hemeti pledged not to allow Sudan to become a hotbed of terrorism, noting that they had monitored all countries providing military support and ready-made meals to the army, threatening them with “paying the price.” He threatened to invade the cities of Atbara, Shendi, Merowe, Ad Dabba, Dongola, and other eastern Sudanese regions, with the aim of pursuing those he described as “criminals.”