Africa

THE Sudanese army on Thursday,  warned against the mobilisation of paramilitary groups in the north of the country and in the capital Khartoum.

A deployment of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) which were not controlled by the military, could result in the collapse of security in the country, SUNA state news agency reported, citing a statement by the Sudanese military.

The exchange came  amid plans to integrate the RSF into the state military.

Observers said that they see the mobilisation as a threatening gesture by the powerful RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan Daglo against ruler and commander-in-chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Some feared that any violent clashes could lead to a renewed civil war.

However, the incorporation of the notorious RSF into the military was one of the most important conditions for the formation of a civilian government in Sudan.

Sudan, driven by crisis, is currently undergoing a period of political upheaval.

The military and the RSF led a military coup together in autumn 2021 but since then, friction between the two military leaders had increased in recent months.

At the same time, the dispute was delaying the transition to a civilian government that al-Burhan had promised.

Recently, Daglo had  spoken out in favour of a speedy transition to a civilian government, putting himself in opposition to al-Burhan.

The military, led by al-Burhan, had held power in the country since the overthrow of long-term strongman Omar al-Bashir in April 2019.

Originally, al-Burhan was to withdraw from the transitional government by 2021 at the latest and allow for a civilian government.

However, after a military coup, the armed forces remained in power, postponing democratic elections indefinitely.

Earlier this week, the military postponed the appointment of a new prime minister and again delayed the transfer of power to a civilian government.(dpa/NAN)

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Tags: Rapid Support Forces