KHARTOUM – The spokesman of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Colonel Fateh Al-Rahman Al-Gurshi, sat down with Sudans Post on Wednesday, addressing key issues in Sudan’s complex landscape. The discussion focused on the RSF’s role in the ongoing conflict, with Al-Gurshi emphasizing efforts to bring normalcy to controlled states. He cited the reopening of vital facilities but acknowledged lingering doubts about the sustainability of peace amid accusations against the RSF.
Q: LET’S START WITH A QUESTION ABOUT THE RECENT STATEMENT ATTRIBUTED TO THE RAPID SUPPORT FORCES COMMANDER THAT THE WAR WILL NOT STOP WITHOUT INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION. HOW DO YOU INTERPRET THIS AND WHAT IS THE PURPOSE?
ANSWER: Regarding the statements attributed to the Rapid Support Forces commander, suggesting that the war will only end with international intervention, these statements are untrue and have no basis.
They are not related to the commander, and we are unaware of where these statements came from. We clarified our position in an official statement that the Rapid Support Forces commander, Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, did not make any statements about ending peace through international intervention.
Q: IS THERE A MOTIVE BEHIND MAKING SUCH STATEMENTS?
ANSWER: Personally, as the official spokesperson for the Rapid Support Forces, I don’t give much importance to these statements as they are not significant. However, we observe many channels broadcasting false news and attributing it to Al-Jazeera as a source.
These news items have no basis in truth, and we are aware that there is a third party aspiring to continue the war because ending it is not in their interest. Therefore, we attribute all such things to the third party seeking the continuation of the war.
Q: AFTER THE RAPID SUPPORT FORCES ESTABLISHED CONTROL OVER DARFUR STATES, HOW ARE WORK AFFAIRS MANAGED, AND HOW ARE SERVICES PROVIDED TO CITIZENS?
ANSWER: All the states controlled by the Rapid Support Forces in the Darfur region are very safe and stable. We have made significant progress in rehabilitating and reopening numerous hospitals that were out of service since the beginning of the war.
Schools, hospitals, water stations, and police stations have been reopened. Videos documenting the reopening of hospitals, water and electricity stations, and the role of civil and federal police in securing citizens and their properties have been widely shared.
We, in the Rapid Support Forces, provide assistance to citizens in our controlled areas so that they can manage themselves. We hand over all work related to the public administration’s service institutions, and we assist them with their essential needs, ensuring security. Our resources are dedicated to restoring normal life in the controlled areas. Now, all the states we have controlled, especially Darfur, Jazeera, and Khartoum, are experiencing peace and security, and things have returned to normal to a very large extent.
Q: REGARDING STATEMENTS MADE BY BURHAN FROM JIBEI AND HIS PROMISE OF THE IMMINENT END OF THE RAPID SUPPORT FORCES, WHAT IS YOUR COMMENT?
ANSWER: Speaking on behalf of the Rapid Support Forces, I don’t pay much attention to Burhan’s statements because we know him as an unpredictable personality in his speeches. Burhan can make statements to the public based on unconfirmed information, and therefore, his statements cannot be linked to any future reality.
Burhan can make statements without reason, and in my estimation, his recent statements are a reaction to something he may have heard. However, we say that these statements have no impact and have not achieved any progress in the battle.
Q: WE HAVE RECENTLY NOTICED THAT MANY REGIONAL AND TRIBAL GROUPS ARE SIDING WITH RAPID SUPPORT FORCES?
ANSWER: The tribes and communities aligning with the Rapid Support Forces under these circumstances are conscious and aware. They understand the sincerity of the Rapid Support Forces in this imposed war, fighting on behalf of the oppressed Sudanese people for over thirty years.
In my estimation, these tribes are fully aware and have realized the facts. Based on these facts, they have chosen to align with us. We welcome all Sudanese communities and call on the entire Sudanese society to unite behind the Rapid Support Forces to achieve their aspirations for freedom, peace, justice, and civil democratic transformation to alleviate the suffering and injustice of our people.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ARMY?
ANSWRER: We have appealed to the honorable members of the armed forces to play a clear role in decisively addressing the misconduct carried out by elements of the National Congress Party and the Islamic Movement within the army. They are honorable individuals bearing the responsibility of the nation. We have urged them extensively, and in my view, in these circumstances, neutrality is not acceptable, especially from the honorable members of the armed forces.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO ARE NEUTRAL IN THIS CONFLICT?
ANSWER: The current situation does not tolerate neutrality, especially at this time. Therefore, the honorable members of the armed forces must have a clear vision in such circumstances to decisively address this misconduct and eliminate elements of the Islamic Movement who have hijacked the army’s decisions, utilizing the capabilities of the armed forces to support the Islamic Movement and the National Congress Party, aiming to return them to power.
In my view, all these costs come at the expense of the lives, properties, and wealth of the Sudanese people. Therefore, it is required of the honorable members of the armed forces to have a clear role, understand this danger, and know that this war was ignited by remnants of the ousted regime and the Islamic Movement, represented by (Ali Karti and Osama Abdullah) and others who were released from prison.
They are now leading mobilization and popular agitation to return to power. Everyone knows this, and therefore, we call on all the honorable members of the armed forces to align with the Rapid Support Forces, just as other communities have done, to achieve the aspirations of the Sudanese people for freedom, peace, justice, and civil democratic transformation, and to build a unified professional national army that protects the country without ruling it.