Colonel (Abu Qamari) and His Son in the Operations to Break the Siege on the General Command: A Heroic Multi-Faceted Story
Sudan Events – Agencies
On that fateful day of the Battle of Dignity, specifically on April 15, 2023, Colonel Ismail Al-Tayeb “Abu Qamari” was tirelessly moving back and forth through the Hatab camp. Overhead, a fighter jet piloted by General Talal Al-Rayeh soared into the sky. The MiG fighter disappeared momentarily into a white cloud before diving and unleashing fiery missiles on the Rapid Support Forces’ tower in central Khartoum.
On the Edge of Danger:
As a paratrooper officer, Abu Qamari quickly realized that the war had truly begun. A rapid assessment revealed that the army’s forces within the walls of the General Command were insufficient to withstand the intense Janjaweed attacks for long. There was no time for formal orders—the president was under threat, and the entire country stood on the brink of disaster.
Abu Qamari assembled a unit of volunteers, mobilizing around 80 vehicles, and made his way toward the old bridge connecting Bahri to Khartoum. He turned left and engaged in a swift battle with militia battalions that were close to seizing control of the Guest House. He struck quickly and decisively, taking down a second group of militiamen. Acting as an advanced defender in a narrow, high-risk area, his tactical maneuvers demanded exceptional discipline, courage, and caution—qualities reminiscent of strategy on a football field.
His movement successfully breached the enemy defenses north of the University of Khartoum tunnel, marking the first decisive military victory against the militia just hours after the Presidential Guard battle.
Mobile Attack Tactics:
The army units that later reached the besieged General Command took entirely defensive positions, disrupting enemy attacks whenever possible. When the Rapid Support Forces reached the range of small arms and their leader confidently claimed that the army had no choice but to surrender, the surrounding forces launched intense counterattacks, using every available defensive firepower.
The strategy shifted toward mobile attack operations, especially after the arrival of reinforcements led by Colonel Othman Kabashi on the second day of combat. These reinforcements, coming from Mount Sarkab and led by commando commander Colonel Ammar Siddiq, included veterans from the airborne Ninth Division. They broke through the siege with swift and decisive action, employing tactics reminiscent of Carl von Clausewitz’s principle: “The strongest defense is a swift and powerful counterattack.” The battles resembled the Manstein-Donbass operation of 1943, where the Soviet forces launched successful offensives that forced German troops to retreat to the Dnieper River.
Under Siege and Rain:
Colonel Abu Qamari remained inside the General Command for approximately 639 days, playing a key role alongside other reinforcements in maintaining its defenses. The General Command endured the horrors of war—siege, hunger, and relentless attacks. Despite this, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan stayed in the command for nearly five months before making a sudden appearance in Omdurman. However, the General Staff remained fully operational, managing military operations from within the General Command to this day.
The struggles, filled with fear and uncertainty, were shared by many Sudanese, especially the families of officers and soldiers trapped within the General Command. Among them was Mohamed Ismail (Abu Qamari), who traveled from Al-Jazirah state, determined to rescue his father and contribute to the national cause—a mission he saw as his personal jihad.
Bravery and Heroism:
Mohamed volunteered to join the “Aman Ya Jan” battalion in the Battle of Dignity. The moment of truth came when the Omdurman and Kadro army units joined forces with the Signal Corps army. Mohamed, wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh and carrying a sniper rifle, fearlessly joined one of the groups that broke into the General Command. His heart was filled with joy at the thought of reuniting with his father after defeating the Janjaweed forces, who had controlled the key entrances to the General Command during the war’s early days.
Thanks to the patience and sacrifices of the officers and soldiers inside, the army successfully thwarted the siege plan. The joint efforts to lift the siege on the General Command, with different generations playing a role, turned into a powerful human story of love and loyalty between father, son, and homeland. It showcased unparalleled bravery and heroism in the face of death and adversity. The journey began with the father’s move to save his commander and break the siege on a critical strategic site, followed by the son’s daring mission to save his father, and ultimately, their shared mission to save the nation.
(Source: Al-Muhaqiq News)
