Al-Burhan threatens ‘deadly force’ against RSF as army suspends ceasefire talks

KHARTOUM, JUNE 1, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – Sudan’s military leader Abdelfattah al Burhan on Tuesday afternoon threatened to use what he called a “deadly force” against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) if it does not heed to call to withdraw from the capital.

Al-Burhan who was touring areas under the army’s control in central Khartoum said his forces haven’t yet used what he referred to as a “deadly force” and that it will be forced to do so if the paramilitary RSF does not heed to the army’s call to put down their weapons.

“We don’t want to use the deadly force. Up to now we haven’t used it because we don’t want to destroy the country, but if the enemy does not intent or response [to calls for withdrawal from Khartoum], we will be forced to use it,” Al-Burhan said.

Burhan who further said that the “army is in control of all the country’s military basis and the army is the Sudanese people and we are fighting a battle of the Sudanese people and we will fight to the last breathes.”

Al-Burhan’s comments were followed by a decision by the army that it has suspended the ongoing ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia, saying that the paramilitary RSF is not committing to the ceasefires signed since the outbreak of violence.

“The General Command of the Armed Forces decided to suspend the ongoing talks in Jeddah, due to the rebel militia’s failure to implement any of the terms stipulated in the agreement, and to continue violating the armistice,” the army said in a statement yesterday.

A senior army official told Sudans Post this morning that the army has submitted a list of preconditions for resumption of talks one of which is the withdrawal of the paramilitary forces from civilians’ homes and hospitals and from the entire capital city.