Sudanese Army General Stands Firm: No Ramadan Truce Without RSF Withdrawal from Civilian Areas

A top general from Sudan’s army has stated that there will be no ceasefire during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan unless the paramilitary group they are fighting vacates civilian and public areas.

Yasser al-Atta, a deputy commander of the army, made this announcement following the army's reported progress in Omdurman, a region in the capital city. The United Nations Security Council has also called for a ceasefire during Ramadan, which is set to start this week.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced that they support the ceasefire proposal. Atta's statement, which was released on the army's official Telegram channel on Sunday, mentioned that for a Ramadan ceasefire to happen, the RSF must fulfill a promise made in Jeddah last May to vacate civilian residences and public areas, as per Atta's remarks in Kassala state the day before.

The RSF leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, and his family should not have any involvement in Sudan's future politics or military.

During his speech to army graduates in Kassala, Atta emphasized that there will be no truce during Ramadan, as ordered by the army and the people.

War broke out between Sudan’s army and the RSF in mid-April 2023 due to tensions surrounding a plan for transitioning to civilian rule. This conflict stemmed from a coup staged by both factions in 2021, which disrupted a previous transition process that began after the overthrow of former leader Omar al-Bashir in 2019.

The army has faced military setbacks during the conflict, causing widespread destruction in the capital, sparking ethically motivated violence in Darfur, and resulting in the largest displacement crisis globally. The RSF gained control of significant portions of the capital at the start of the conflict.

Nevertheless, the army has made progress in regaining control in Omdurman, a part of the broader capital area separated by the Nile, which also includes Khartoum and Bahri.

A boy is seen sitting on top of a hill, looking out over a refugee camp near the Chad-Sudan border on November 9, 2023. The camp is home to hundreds of Masalit families from Sudan's West Darfur state who were forced to flee to Chad after a targeted massacre in the city of El Geneina. They were relocated here after seeking refuge in the Chadian border town of Adre.

FILE PHOTO: A boy sits atop a hill overlooking a refugee camp near the Chad-Sudan border, November 9, 2023. Hundreds of Masalit families from Sudan's West Darfur state were relocated here months after fleeing to the Chadian border town of Adre, following an ethnically targeted massacre in the city of El Geneina. REUTERS/El Tayeb Siddig/File Photo

El Tayeb Siddig/Reuters/File

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Sudan is facing the world's largest hunger crisis, according to a warning from the United Nations. In the district of Wad Nubawi in Omdurman, resident Mohamed Abdel Rahman shared that locals who had returned to the area taken by the army were eager to help restore services and repair the visible war damage. The area is filled with pockmarked and shattered buildings, destroyed shops and kiosks, and burned-out vehicles.

"We want to collaborate with government authorities as young people to reunite our families and, hopefully, observe Ramadan together at home," he expressed, while heavily armed soldiers were seen patrolling the area.

Amidst a humanitarian crisis, the youth are eager to work with officials to bring their families back together and celebrate Ramadan in the comfort of their homes.

The RSF announced on Sunday that the army declined their offer to release 537 prisoners of war to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

According to the RSF, the SAF leadership turned down their suggestion to return the prisoners as a gesture of goodwill during Ramadan. This decision comes after previous attempts by the RSF to resolve the crisis unilaterally.

The army stated that they had not been contacted by the ICRC regarding the offer mentioned by the RSF. They also dismissed the claims made by the RSF as untrue.

Despite several efforts by the international community to negotiate ceasefires, the ongoing fighting has not been halted.

Nearly 25 million people in Sudan, which is half of the country's population, require aid. Around 8 million individuals have been forced to leave their homes, and the issue of hunger is becoming more severe. Both warring factions are being blamed by Washington for engaging in war crimes.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has recently made a plea for a Ramadan truce to be observed this week.

Sudan’s UN ambassador informed the UN security council that Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the army and ruling council, appreciated Guterres' appeal but was unsure about its implementation.

Sudan’s foreign ministry, which is in line with the armed forces, stated that for a ceasefire to happen, the RSF must pull out from regions like El Gezira and Sennar states, as well as various cities in Darfur, which is the RSF’s main area of control.

Editor's P/S:

The ongoing conflict in Sudan between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has reached a critical juncture as the holy month of Ramadan approaches. The army's refusal to observe a ceasefire unless the RSF vacates civilian areas highlights the deep distrust and animosity between the warring factions. The humanitarian crisis in Sudan, with millions facing hunger and displacement, adds urgency to the need for a truce. It is imperative that both sides prioritize the well-being of the Sudanese people and find a peaceful resolution to this devastating conflict.

The international community must continue to exert pressure on the warring parties to lay down their arms and engage in meaningful dialogue. The United Nations Security Council's call for a Ramadan ceasefire provides an opportunity for both sides to demonstrate their commitment to peace. The RSF's support for the ceasefire proposal and their offer to release prisoners of war are positive steps, but they must be met with reciprocal gestures from the army. The Sudanese people deserve to celebrate Ramadan in peace and security, and it is the responsibility of their leaders to make this happen.