Removing the Rapid Support Forces from Residential Areas and Returning the Army to Barracks
Mohamed Abdel Majed
The Jordanian novelist and poet Ibrahim Nasrallah says: "The worst thing that can happen to us is for the scene to become familiar."
It seems that we are on our way to that. Worse than the ongoing war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces is for it to become "familiar" to us, for us to become accustomed to death, violations, and the difficult conditions imposed by the war.
Our children have become accustomed to the sound of gunfire, and images of the dead and destruction caused by the war no longer frighten or panic them.
Our children are no longer amazed by planes flying above their heads, and they are indifferent to the shells falling before their eyes. They have moved beyond the time of being astonished by these things! We are now living without "salaries," and our lives continue in this difficult manner in a familiar and accustomed way.
If we do not reject these conditions and say "No to War" with strength, determination, and responsibility, this war will become a part of us and we will make it natural for us, especially since the war in Sudan has now developed its own culture, economy, and language. In fact, this war has supporters and advocates who call for it in the name of the nation, to ignite and not stop it. Even the call for it has become a part of "nationalism" and a reason for "diplomacy" and life! The phrase "No to War" has become a sign of the highest treason.
I dont know what term best describes the current situation. We have tried many times to be happy in speech if not in reality, but we have found that the absence of truth and not putting the dots on the letters have led to Sudan witnessing decline and collapse day by day. The language of procrastination and anesthetization is still prevalent, and it is the superior language for dealing with reality with recklessness and indifference.
The ambiguity will only lead us to loss. Escaping from the truth will not bring us victory, and distorting reality can be worse than reality itself, even if the reality is what we are living in Sudan now. Yes, lets deal with reality as it is, not as we wish. Dont make our world the (virtual) world where truth is absent and honesty fades away.
We did not handle the war in Sudan well because we did not accurately assess the crisis. We allowed those who spread, in fact, confirmed, that the resolution would be within 48 hours to determine our fate. They were certain that the resolution would be in the coming hours, which unfortunately seem to be always in the unseen future, and they are (coming) and peace, in a deceptive and anesthetic manner. Every additional hour in this war, we lose more and the country bleeds with every coming hour. We must call things by their real names without falsification or embellishment.
The journalist Youssef Al-Aqid talked about the debate and dialogue that took place between Abdel Nasser and Heikal on the night of the resignation regarding the linguistic expressions that can be used in such a historical statement. Abdel Nasser insisted on using the word "defeat," while Heikal coined the word "setback." We are now in Sudan living in a time of "disappointment."
The Egyptian authorities, media, and the entire Egyptian people were talking about the victory of the Egyptian army and the crushing of the Israeli enemy during the Six-Day War, only to find themselves later in the "setback" that described the end of the war between the Egyptian army and the Israeli enemy. That war, known as the Six-Day War, ended with a "setback."
What is the most appropriate term to describe the six-month war? As we approach the completion of the seventh month in the ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.
Many were calling for military rule and thought the civilians had too much authority. They considered their peaceful competition and dialogue a kind of chaos. The head of the Sovereignty Council, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, mocked the civilian component and lamented their verbal altercations, considering it fragmentation that would lead to the disintegration of Sudan.
Al-Burhan criticized the political parties and civilian components for their natural democratic and peaceful competition and excluded his civilian partners from power to ensure the government is fully under military control. In the Republican Palace, they gathered all military components, including the army, the Rapid Support Forces, and the armed movements. It was natural that with these military gatherings in the palace, a war would occur. They were all competing for seats of power. Al-Burhan and Hemeti overthrew Hamdoks government, while Minawi, Ardo, and Jibril turned against the Forces of Freedom and Change.
What do you expect from a government based on a coup? What is built on a coup will only lead to another coup.
When the agreement was reached between the army and the Rapid Support Forces through the Military Councils government, the massacre of the sit-in dispersal took place around the general command. The Sudanese people paid the price for that agreement, and now they are paying the price for the differences that have arisen between the army and the Rapid Support Forces through a devastating war. A war in which civilians are victims in Khartoum, Darfur, Kordofan, and all over Sudan.
The palace, which overthrew Hamdoks government on October 25, 2021, is now witnessing a fierce war between its military components. The general command, which witnessed the sit-in dispersal massacre, is now under a deadly siege. We dont say this is a punishment, as we all bear the cost of this punishment, but we say that this is a lesson we must learn from. Power should be returned to civilians after the war between the military entered its seventh month.
Al-Burhans recent statements about returning power to civilians are worthy of respect, support, and backing, despite the constant attempts by the remnants to continue the war and ignite Sudan. The Jeddah negotiations taking place these days between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, under the auspices of Saudi Arabia and the United States, must result in the withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces from residential areas, public facilities, markets, and roads. These negotiations must also return the army to its barracks.
If power is not returned to a full civilian government, do not dream of peace and security. This war has spoiled relations between the military components in power, and it has become difficult or impossible to bring them together in one government. Building a single, strong, professional army with prestige and status can only happen if the army returns to its barracks. The armys place is in the general command, not in the palace. Therefore, a strong and unified national army can only exist if the army stays away from power and refrains from politics. The Rapid Support Forces place is on the borders, not in cities and residential areas.
The strange thing is that although the armed movements are partners in power and see what is happening in Khartoum and Darfur, the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minawi and the Justice and Equality Movement led by Jibril Ibrahim have disassociated themselves from a statement by the armed movements that signed the peace agreement. The statement described the Rapid Support Forces as a rebellious militia and called for them to be held accountable for the crimes they committed against civilians. This development could fuel the conflict in Darfur.
Minawi, the governor of the Darfur region, which is witnessing a fierce war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, and Jibril Ibrahim, the Minister of Finance in the government fighting against the Rapid Support Forces and describing them as a rebellious force, both refused to use the term "militias" for the Rapid Support Forces. This is at a time when the government is attacking the Forces of Freedom and Change, despite its statements condemning the violations of the Rapid Support Forces and clearly and unequivocally rejecting them.
How can victory be achieved in the war if there are components in the government that refuse to describe the Rapid Support Forces as a militia?
As for Al-Hadi Idris and Hajr, their position was clearer. They were accused of leaning towards and supporting the Rapid Support Forces. As for Malik Agar, he was promoted to Hemetis position to become the deputy head of the Sovereignty Council. Therefore, he did not hesitate to attack the Rapid Support Forces, which is a natural thing since he is defending the position he was promoted to after the war. The conflict in power seems to be clearly a struggle for positions, chairs, and other things.
The Rapid Support Forces, after homes and hospitals, have turned their war into installations and oil fields and airports. This is a blow to the countrys institutions and resources and a destruction of the states wealth after looting the peoples wealth!
End!!
Abu Ibrahim
