Former Minerals Minister: RSF Militia Is at Its weakest Status… Lifting El-Fashir Siege Cannot be postponed

Mohamed Bashir Abu Namu, Assistant Chairman of the Sudan Liberation Movement for Foreign Relations and former head of the Sudanese government negotiating delegation, said that Saudi Arabia and the United States were the two main parties that led the negotiations through the Jeddah platform between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia after the outbreak of war in Sudan. He pointed out that if the two countries’ vision is to expand the mediation umbrella, it is essential that this be subject to consultation and approval from the Sudanese government.

Abu Namu added, to Al-Shorouk, that when the proposal to include Egypt in the mediation was proposed, Sudan immediately welcomed it, as it is a neighboring, neutral country that supports Sudan, its leadership, and its official institutions. Moreover, Egypt’s national security is linked to the stability of a unified Sudan.

He continued: “But the real crisis is the inclusion of other countries in the mediation that Sudan rejects for objective reasons, top of which that they support the militia militarily and politically. Therefore, mediation by these countries cannot be accepted.”

He continued, “Although I am not currently in the government, I believe that, given that we are partners in the government under the Juba Peace Agreement, if pressure is exerted to accept this expanded mediation, I recommend that it be done in exchange for the inclusion of Qatar and Eritrea, to create a sense of balance in decision-making, as they are two neutral countries that support the Sudanese authorities.”

Regarding the Darfur governor’s talk about the possibility of negotiating with the militia and “Sumoud,” Abu Namu said that initiating negotiations with any party does not necessarily mean accepting its conditions in advance. It should be noted that the initial negotiations at the Jeddah forum were between SAF and the RSF, and they reached an agreement that was not implemented by the Rapid Support Forces, and the negotiations were suspended.

Abu Namu added, “Later, the American side requested consultations with the Sudanese government regarding the transfer of the Jeddah forum to Geneva. The government decided to send a civilian-led government delegation instead of the SAF delegation that had been negotiating previously. I was personally assigned to head that delegation, but we did not agree with the American side on transferring the forum and expanding the mediation.”

He continued: “After that, the balance of military power on the ground shifted, and the rebel militia is now at its weakest status. Nevertheless, we are working to end this war and achieve peace under new conditions that keep pace with developments on the ground.”

The Assistant Chairman of the Sudan Liberation Movement for Foreign Relations emphasized the nonrecognition of the civilian bodies formed after the war and identified with the RSF as “Ta’asis” and “Sumoud.” He pointed out that they are Sudanese citizens whose status is governed by the laws in force in the country, in terms of their connection to the parties attacking the state, whether their connection to the rebel militia or the states sponsoring them.

Regarding the militia’s declaration of a parallel government in the city of Nyala, Abu Namu asserted that the alternative plan, after the militia’s failure to seize power in the capital, Khartoum, and the rest of the Sudanese states, was to control the Darfur region, and perhaps part of Kordofan, and declare a parallel state similar to the Libyan or Yemeni model. What was announced in Nyala is the practical implementation of this plan. He added, “This hypothesis is doomed to fail, even without a military confrontation, because the Sudanese people in Darfur and Kordofan strongly reject the division of Sudan under any pretext.”

Respecting the siege of El-Fashir, Abu Namu stated that the humanitarian and living conditions in the city are at their worst, with a dire shortage of food supplies. “The situation cannot be delayed, otherwise hundreds of thousands will die of starvation in the near future.” Abu Namu said.