July 15, 2024 (OMDURMAN) – Sudanese army assistant commander-in-chief, Yasir al-Atta, declared on Tuesday that the armed forces will not negotiate with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) even if the conflict continues for a century.
This declaration comes amidst UN-sponsored indirect talks in Geneva between the Sudanese government and the RSF, focusing on the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
Speaking at a promotion ceremony for officers and soldiers of the Engineering Corps in Omdurman, al-Atta stated, “There will be no negotiation, no truce, even if the war lasts 100 years.” He argued that negotiating with the RSF would merely postpone the conflict and exacerbate political, military, and security issues, hindering Sudan’s progress.
Al-Atta emphasized the army’s commitment to continuing what he termed the “war of dignity” until the surrender of RSF fighters and their collaborators. He dismissed claims of tribal support for the RSF, asserting that no tribe would endorse the “devil’s actions” of violence and abuse attributed to the paramilitary group.
“We stand with the will and decision of the Sudanese people, whose interest lies in the elimination of the RSF,” al-Atta declared.
Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a devastating conflict between the army and the RSF, originating in the capital Khartoum and spreading to vast areas of Darfur, Kordofan, Al Jazirah, the White Nile, and Sennar regions.
The escalating conflict has resulted in countless deaths and displaced over ten million people, raising alarms about an impending famine due to the lack of humanitarian aid reaching those affected.