Sudanese army probes surprise withdrawal in Wad Madani following RSF takeover

PORT SUDAN – The Sudanese army has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding its surprise withdrawal from Al-Gezira State’s Wad Madani, paving the way for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to seize control of the city.

Following a four-day offensive launched Friday, the RSF captured the 1st Infantry Division headquarters on Monday morning before entering the city itself later that day.

This development sparked anger and speculation online, with activists blaming the army for “fifth column” treachery and calling for the removal of General Abdelfattah Al-Burhan in favor of a stronger leader who could secure victory against the increasingly bold RSF.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Nabil Abdalla confirmed the investigation, assuring transparency upon its completion.

“On Monday, December 18, 2023, the First Division Headquarters forces withdrew from the city of Madani. Investigations are underway into the reasons and circumstances that led to the withdrawal of forces from their positions, as is the case in other military areas,” he stated, emphasizing the scope of the probe.

“The results of the investigation will be submitted to the competent authorities as soon as they are completed, and then the facts will be made available to the public,” he added, pledging transparency amidst public unease.

Wad Madani, Sudan’s second-largest city after Khartoum, had remained relatively peaceful since the outbreak of war in April, offering refuge to displaced people from Kordofan, Darfur, and Khartoum.

However, the recent RSF offensive has triggered a mass exodus, with an estimated 300,000 residents fleeing the city since the RSF advance began last week.

The circumstances surrounding the army’s withdrawal and the RSF’s swift takeover raise critical questions about internal dynamics within the Sudanese military and the power struggle between the two forces.

The ongoing investigation, while facing skepticism from some, holds the potential to shed light on these events and their implications for the country’s fragile stability.