Sudan Events – Updates
Five out of seven advisors to the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), announced their defection on Saturday. One advisor revealed that the army had thwarted a plan by Hemedti to take control of the Red Sea coast, which ultimately led to the outbreak of war.
Abdelkader Ibrahim Ali Mohamed, head of the RSF’s Eastern Affairs Advisory Council, stated in a press conference held in Port Sudan that, “We announce our withdrawal from the RSF Advisory Council.”
He pointed out that relations between the army and RSF soured when RSF plans emerged to establish more than three ports on the Red Sea, including Abu Amama port. The army objected to this and other projects in the Red Sea State.
Abdelkader added that the RSF had planned to set up 16 camps, three airports, and a naval force in the Red Sea State.
“We informed Hemedti that these projects involved foreign partners, with funding amounting to $30 billion in two phases,” he said.
He continued, “Hemedti’s brother, Gouni, and other figures arrived in Port Sudan to discuss these projects, and the committee began engaging with the local government for approvals. However, the governor delayed in granting the necessary permissions.”
He noted that there were unnamed countries that expressed concerns over the RSF’s projects in the Red Sea.
Abdelkader further stated that the RSF’s projects aimed to deploy 30,000 fighters along the Sudanese Red Sea coast, but faced difficulties due to a lack of approvals, straining relations between the army and Hemedti.
He added that Hemedti informed the RSF committee involved in these projects that he would seize power if his plans were not approved.
He explained that such a significant defection from senior leaders was unprecedented and came after consultations that lasted around eight months. He expects strong reactions within the RSF following their defection.
He mentioned that before the outbreak of the war, efforts were made to prevent it amidst escalating tensions.
According to him, the outbreak of war was not due to the framework agreement, but rather Hemedti’s personal ambitions and his desire to seize power by force, serving his own interests and those of other countries.
He confirmed that Hemedti was supporting the palace sit-in that led to the fall of the Freedom and Change government in October 2021.
He added, “Initially, the sit-in was supposed to be at the Friendship Hall, but Hemedti decided to move it to the Republican Palace, a move opposed by the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement.” He continued, “The purpose of the palace sit-in was to dismantle Freedom and Change.”
