Sudan war: Hemedti laments human suffering amid daily RSF attrocities

The commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Lt Gen Mohamed ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo, has issued an “urgent call to the international community on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan”. Hemedti’s appeal has been met with cynicism amid widespread daily reports of rape, assault, and theft by RSF militiamen, ‘wreaking havoc’ in Darfur and other parts of Sudan that fall under the militia’s control.

In a lengthy statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) today, Hemedti points out: “Sudanese civilians find themselves in dire circumstances, facing the real possibility of starvation. This situation necessitates prompt action from regional and international organisations and agencies to provide urgent relief”.

In his statement, the RSF commander asserts that the war in Sudan, that broke out in April last year, “[was] ignited by remnants of the former regime and their allies within the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF).” He highlights that “the situation has deteriorated significantly, culminating in a famine in certain areas of the country”, and that “Sudanese civilians find themselves in dire circumstances, facing the real possibility of starvation.” He calls on “prompt action from regional and international organisations and agencies to provide urgent relief”.

However, as previously reported by Radio Dabanga, mounting allegations from Sudan indicate that the RSF is part of the problem, rather than part of the solution. Marauding members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are reportedly “wreaking havoc“ among civilians in parts of Sudan under the militia’s control. While individual incidents are often hard to verify, reports reaching Radio Dabanga show a clear pattern of widespread banditry, including murder, robbery, and sexual violence.

Humanitarian catastrophe

International aid organisations have long lamented the humanitarian catastrophe befalling Sudanese civilians, and a group of UN experts reported last week that “about 25 million people, including 14 million children, are in dire need of humanitarian assistance in Sudan”.

In today’s post on X, Hemedti says that the RSF “reaffirm our steadfast commitment to working with all international partners to facilitate the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid in Sudan, ensuring the welfare and safety of affected populations and humanitarian workers.”

However, as a few respondents voiced support for the RSF, most reactions scorned Hemedti’s remarks. “You are the main reason for war. You should be sent to International Criminal Court immediately for all crimes in Sudan,” says ‘Shadia’. In another response, ‘Sogra’ says: “RSF (Janjaweed) are responsible for the suffering of the Sudanese people. RSF started a war against Sudanese people and their army. RSF (Janjaweed) soldiers and leaders are criminals.”

UN relief

Yesterday, the United Nations and its partners appealed for a combined $4.1 billion to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs of civilians in war-torn Sudan and those who have fled to neighbouring countries.

A joint statement by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), pints out: “Ten months since the conflict erupted, half of Sudan’s population – some 25 million people – needs humanitarian assistance and protection. More than 1.5 million people have fled across Sudan’s borders to the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan.”

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinates the response inside Sudan, with this year’s Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan calling for $2.7 billion to reach 14.7 million people. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, coordinates the Regional Refugee Response Plan, which requests $1.4 billion and targets nearly 2.7 million people in five countries neighbouring Sudan.

See the RSF commander Hemedti’s complete statement here.

See the joint OCHA and UNHCR statement here.