Gebreil Ibrahim: “Hemeidti is Like a Fish — Ignorant and Unfit to Govern”

Sudanese Minister of Finance Gebreil Ibrahim said that what is happening in Sudan is not merely a war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, nor even a proxy war by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as some claim, but rather a comprehensive global conflict aimed at reshaping the Middle East as part of a broader Western project.

Speaking to the Sudanese community in Moscow, Gebreil explained that citizens in El-Fashir are living under extremely dire humanitarian conditions, with some residents resorting to eating leather after exhausting their supply of animal feed. He pointed out that the blockade is not limited to El-Fashir but also affects Kadugli, Dilling, and Babanousa.

He affirmed that the army has made significant progress in recent battles after liberating the capital and several states, adding that the armed forces are moving steadily toward liberating all territories and reaching Darfur.

In the same context, Gebreil said of the militia commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeidti) that he “does not understand governance or state administration,” describing him as a tool used by others to achieve their goals. He added: “Hemeidti is like a fish — once he was fed, he leaped and landed on the bank,” implying that his political ambitions exceeded his capabilities. He stressed that the government sees no future for the militia, neither politically nor militarily.

Gebreil accused the RSF militia of attempting to erase Sudan’s history by destroying public institutions and heritage sites, saying: “The militia destroyed everything—from museums to roads to state institutions.” He emphasized that the war is extremely difficult and costly, with open-ended financial and military support for the militias, while the army struggles to procure weapons due to sanctions imposed on Sudan. “Even when we find the money to buy arms, we face difficulty bringing them into the country because of the blockade,” he added.

Gebreil also spoke candidly about the war’s impact on Sudan’s economy, noting that the country has lost 80% of its revenues, which previously came from Khartoum before the conflict began. He explained that when the government moved to Port Sudan at the start of the war, its revenues did not exceed 55 million Sudanese pounds, whereas today they surpass 900 billion. However, he stressed that these revenues remain limited.

He confirmed that no entity or country has provided direct financial support to the government, noting that some states may have offered military assistance to the army, but it does not pass through the Ministry of Finance.

Gebreil added that the depreciation of the national currency is a natural outcome during wartime due to the increased demand for foreign currencies, pointing out that the government is compelled to borrow from the central bank to cover its daily operations.