Sudan forms ‘strategic battalion’ to defend capital

The opposition National Consensus Forces described Khartoum’s announcement to form a special “strategic battalion” to counter a possible attack of the rebel Sudan Revolutionary Front on Khartoum, as “a serious threat to the homeland and the lives and safety of citizens”.Kamal Omer Abdel Salam, Secretary of Information and spokesman of the National Consensus Forces, told Radio Dabanga that this “battalion” is proof of the state of panic and crisis the government of Sudan is suffering from as well as their inability to deal with the widespread rebel attacks.Moreover, the spokesman added that the formation of this battalion proves the government’s inability to challenge the crimes against its people during wars, such as corruption, looting people’s money and killings. Abdel Salam said that the choice to mainly appoint government officials for the strategic batallion is “funny” and its intention is “to enter the country in a tunnel of measures, restricted freedom and more control over newspapers.” The spokesman added that the composition is a prelude to the confiscation of security in the state of Khartoum.The National Congress Party announced the formation of the strategic battalion for the defense of Khartoum State deciding to suspend the National Assembly sessions for a week in order to enable MPs to travel to their constituencies and lead a mobilization campaign in support of the Sudan Armed Forces.File photo