As Army and Rapid Support Forces Battle It Out, Sudanese Left Calls For Restoring the Revolution: 100 more Dead
Background
As many as 100 people have been killed since fighting broke out between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15. Since the fighting started, the two forces have released differing accounts of who fired the first shot.
According to the Sudanese army, an RSF unit, which reports directly to Sudan’s ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC), attacked a military convoy, leading to the outbreak of fighting. However, the RSF claims that the army opened fire on its forces first.
The Battle
The battle between the Sudanese Army and the RSF has been raging in South Kordofan, a province that lies along the border with South Sudan. Reports suggest that civilians have also been caught in the crossfire between the two forces.
The fighting underscores the growing tensions between the army and the RSF, which is led by the notorious warlord, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as “Hemeti.” Hemeti played a key role in the ousting of former President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019, but has since emerged as a powerful figure in Sudanese politics.
Sudanese Left Calls for Restoring the Revolution
The fighting between the army and the RSF has also provoked a strong response from Sudan’s left-wing political groups. These groups have accused both the army and the RSF of undermining Sudan’s popular revolution, which toppled the regime of Omar al-Bashir last year.
According to the Sudanese Communist Party, the fighting is a direct result of the TMC’s attempts to cling to power and to undermine the popular revolution. The party has called for the restoration of the revolution, which it argues has been hijacked by the military.
The International Response
The fighting in South Kordofan has also attracted the attention of the international community. The United Nations has called on both the army and RSF to exercise restraint and to avoid any actions that might lead to further violence.
The African Union has also expressed concern about the situation, and has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The AU has urged the TMC to respect the rights of Sudanese citizens and to adhere to the principles of democracy and the rule of law.
Conclusion
The fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF is a worrying development for Sudan, which is still grappling with the legacy of the Omar al-Bashir regime. The violence highlights the deep divides that exist within Sudanese society and raises serious questions about the country’s path to democracy.
The left-wing political groups in Sudan have called for the restoration of the revolution, but it remains to be seen if their calls will be heeded. For now, the focus is on finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict in South Kordofan and preventing further loss of life.
