-
Burhan Emphasizes the Need for Rapid Support Forces to Leave Civilian Areas
Intense fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces has escalated in recent hours, with the Commander of the Sudanese Army, Abdel Fattah Burhan, stating that his country is facing a systematic war with multiple parties involved.
In his remarks, Burhan stressed that the war will not end until the Rapid Support Forces withdraw from civilian areas and citizens' homes, in addition to halting the political and military support they receive from some countries. He stated: "Sudan's relationships will be built on the positions of countries regarding this war."
This coincided with the Sudanese army's announcement on Monday that the Rapid Support Forces targeted the Merowe Dam and its power station using drones, resulting in damages. The leadership of the 19th Infantry Division in Merowe reported that they had managed to intercept several of those drones in the area.
On the other hand, a Sudanese source told Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath that a fire broke out in part of the Merowe Dam power station, leading to its shutdown until the damages could be assessed. The Merowe Dam is a hydroelectric dam located on the Nile River in the Northern State, approximately 350 kilometers from the capital, Khartoum.
Last Saturday, the Sudanese army announced that it had regained control of the city of Wad Madani, the capital of Al-Jazeera State (in central Sudan), enabling it to achieve new military gains after nearly a year of losing the city to the Rapid Support Forces.
Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces have been engaged in a military confrontation that has resulted in over 20,000 deaths and nearly 14 million displaced persons and refugees, according to estimates from the United Nations and local authorities, while some research from American universities estimates the death toll to be around 130,000.
