‘Rapid Support Forces in Darfur to fight rebels’: General

26/02/2014 21:40

The Commander of the Rapid Support Forces has stated that his troops’ movements and deployment in military operations are arranged in coordination with the General Command of the Sudanese army. They are in Darfur to fight the armed opposition movements. Maj. Gen. Abbas Abdel Aziz, the commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), locally known as Janjaweed militias, told the pro-government Ashorooq TV channel on Tuesday that the movements of the troops are arranged in coordination with the General Command of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). “They are not the concerns of the State Governors.” The Commander stressed that the RSF “are now in the field to complete the dry season military campaign against the rebels in Darfur. After we have dealt with the insurgency, the troops will return to their stations and wait for orders to complete the rest of the tasks planned by the SAF General Command”. Radio Dabanga reported in December last year that civilians in West Kordofan clashed with militiamen in reaction to the assaults, robberies, and sexual harassment by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Troops from the Sudanese army garrison of Kharasan joined the people in their fight against the militia.Border Guards Commander, Mohamed Hamdan, better known as Hemeti, had recruited large numbers of Darfuris to be trained as RSF in order to fight along with the Sudanese army in South Kordofan. Large numbers of these militiamen were stationed in the area near El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan. After fierce protests of the population against their assaults, they were expelled from North Kordofan mid February. They reportedly returned to Darfur. File photo Related:Fear among South Darfur displaced as Rapid Support Forces arrive (24 February 2014) Militias expelled from North Kordofan arrive in South Darfur (18 February 2014) $3 million for withdrawal of North Kordofan’s Janjaweed (14 February 2014) Janjaweed ‘causing chaos’ in North Kordofan capital (7 February 2014) Civilians, army clash with militia in South Kordofan (24 December 2013)Sudan training young Darfuris to fight in South Kordofan: recruit (9 December 2013)

The Commander of the Rapid Support Forces has stated that his troops’ movements and deployment in military operations are arranged in coordination with the General Command of the Sudanese army. They are in Darfur to fight the armed opposition movements.

Maj. Gen. Abbas Abdel Aziz, the commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), locally known as Janjaweed militias, told the pro-government Ashorooq TV channel on Tuesday that the movements of the troops are arranged in coordination with the General Command of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). “They are not the concerns of the State Governors.”

The Commander stressed that the RSF “are now in the field to complete the dry season military campaign against the rebels in Darfur. After we have dealt with the insurgency, the troops will return to their stations and wait for orders to complete the rest of the tasks planned by the SAF General Command”.

Radio Dabanga reported in December last year that civilians in West Kordofan clashed with militiamen in reaction to the assaults, robberies, and sexual harassment by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Troops from the Sudanese army garrison of Kharasan joined the people in their fight against the militia.

Border Guards Commander, Mohamed Hamdan, better known as Hemeti, had recruited large numbers of Darfuris to be trained as RSF in order to fight along with the Sudanese army in South Kordofan. Large numbers of these militiamen were stationed in the area near El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan. After fierce protests of the population against their assaults, they were expelled from North Kordofan mid February. They reportedly returned to Darfur.

File photo

Related:

Fear among South Darfur displaced as Rapid Support Forces arrive (24 February 2014)

Militias expelled from North Kordofan arrive in South Darfur (18 February 2014)

$3 million for withdrawal of North Kordofan’s Janjaweed (14 February 2014)

Janjaweed ‘causing chaos’ in North Kordofan capital (7 February 2014)

Civilians, army clash with militia in South Kordofan (24 December 2013)

Sudan training young Darfuris to fight in South Kordofan: recruit (9 December 2013)