Armed Forces Clash: Sudan’s General Challenges Kenyan President to Battle
In a clear escalation of animosity that has been smoldering for months, General Yasser Al-Atta of the Sudan Armed Forces has dared President William Ruto to fight the Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) with his troops.
In an online video, General Al-Atta mocks Ruto and warns him not to accompany East African forces conducting a joint operation in the troubled Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Since the fall of the transitional government, the Al-Atta faction has accused the Kenyan president of financing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been fighting for control of Khartoum.
Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo, the leader of RSF, has been accused by the Yasir unit of being a close ally of the Kenyan president.
Al-Atta stated, “The state (Kenya) that financially supports you (RSF) and mercenaries like you must also bring its army… leave the East African forces and come with your army to intervene; we are waiting.”
After he was appointed by Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), SAF rejected Ruto as the mediator of the ongoing conflict.
ALSO READ: Ruto’s Sudan Rejection Raises Concerns: Kenya’s Diplomatic Influence at Stake?
Instead, the SAF has proposed that South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit lead the team of mediators.
In his speech, the General criticized the presence of an East African force entrusted with protecting civilians and aid workers in Khartoum as the conflict drags on.
In support of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the Sudanese military authorities have also pointed the finger at an unnamed Gulf state.
General Alatta stated that the army’s ultimate objective was to maintain a united Sudan “free from the Janjaweed menace.”
He emphasized that they do not seek to govern; rather, the political forces must reach an accord and govern the nation.
“Sudan is not a game for every unscrupulous politician, profiteer, and mercenary,” he continued.
The army has deployed infantry forces in Khartoum to initiate ground operations against the RASF militiamen as the war enters its 100th day. The military has also established volunteer training centers in the northern, eastern, and central states of Sudan.
In the meantime, the pro-democracy coalition of Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) is conducting its first meeting in Cairo, Egypt since the conflict in Sudan began.
Armed Forces Clash: Sudan’s General Challenges Kenyan President to Battle
