Nyala, October 22 (Darfur24)
Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti), commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and head of the Presidential Council in the so-called “founding” government, accused the Sudanese Armed Forces of committing genocide and ethnic cleansing against tribes in Darfur and Kordofan.
In a video address, Hemeti pointed to the Mazroub incident in which 21 leaders of the Majaneen tribe were killed as evidence of an alleged campaign against indigenous administrations in Al-Koma, Kabkabiya, Al-Geneina, Abu Jadad, Al-Zarq, and Bulbul.
“They want to wipe the tribes off the map,” he said, “just as the madmen did when they killed their leaders, their sons, and their grandchildren.”
Hemeti also alleged that the army bombed displaced people in the Korma area after they fled El Fasher, and accused the military of preventing civilians from leaving besieged areas to use them as human shields.
He said many supporters of the “founding” government demand a retaliatory response to the army bombing, but stressed that the RSF had so far acted “ethically because all citizens are our citizens in the north and east.” He described his opponents as “criminals, mercenaries, and racists,” adding: “You are a cancer, and we are its cure. God has given us power over you since you chose blood.”
Hemeti framed the conflict as one against what he called the Islamic Movement’s influence inside the army and intelligence services. He accused army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of ties to the Islamic Movement and claimed members of the General Intelligence Service were “100 percent Islamists, from privates to lieutenant generals.” He said this prevents national unity and must be uprooted.
He also accused the army of targeting military barracks while, he said, the army continues to bomb civilians. “There is no war of dignity, but rather hypocrisy and lies,” Hemeti said.
In the same address, Hemeti issued a warning to external bases used to launch air strikes on Darfur.
“Any aircraft launched from a neighboring country that is shot down or a drone that kills, the airport will be a legitimate target for us,” he said, threatening strikes on any airport from which drones or aircraft are used against RSF positions or civilians.
Hemeti’s comments come amid escalating tensions and repeated exchanges of accusations between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces.