Port Sudan, August 13(Darfur24)On Tuesday, the Commander of the Sudanese Army, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, vowed not to negotiate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), saying that “there is no peace while the Rapid Support Forces occupy and besiege homes, cities and villages, and there is no cessation of combat operations unless RSF withdrawa from the cities and villages that they “have violated and colonized their people.”
Al-Burhan said in a speech, marking the 70th anniversary of Army Day, that the path to peace or the cessation of war is clear, which is to implement what was agreed upon in Jeddah in May 2023.
He added that “the Sudanese army will not compromise on the legitimate rights of the people to restore security and stability and eliminate the treacherous aggression, no matter how great the sacrifices, and we will work relentlessly to celebrate the upcoming Armed Forces Day with our country cleansed of the filth of rebellion.”
Al-Burhan strongly attacked the political forces that he described as mercenary forces supporting the Rapid Support Forces.
Al-Burhan’s statement comes as the first official response from the army to the American call for talks with the Rapid Support Forces to cease fire, scheduled for Wednesday in the Swiss capital, Geneva.
In return, the negotiating delegation of the Rapid Support Forces arrived in Geneva in preparation for participating in the ceasefire talks scheduled for Wednesday.
It said that its negotiating delegation arrived in Geneva today, Tuesday, “carrying with it the desire and sincere will to put an end to the suffering of the Sudanese people, and to enhance positive engagement with regional and international initiatives to stop the war.”
It confirmed in a statement on the “X” platform that the arrival of its delegation “comes out of respect and appreciation for the sincere international and regional efforts and endeavors to address the worsening Sudanese crisis; as a result of the war ignited by the old regime and its elements in the leadership of the Sudanese army.”