{"id":20054356,"date":"2023-09-28T22:33:11","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T20:33:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/?p=20054356"},"modified":"2023-10-03T17:09:42","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T15:09:42","slug":"sudan-war-both-el-burhan-and-hemedti-arrive-in-saudi-arabia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/sudan-war-both-el-burhan-and-hemedti-arrive-in-saudi-arabia","title":{"rendered":"Sudan war: both El Burhan and Hemedti arrive in Saudi Arabia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, head of Sudan\u2019s Sovereignty Council and commander of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), and Lt Gen Mohamed \u2018Hemedti\u2019 Dagalo, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) reportedly arrived in Saudi Arabia last night, raising hope for the country\u2019s population of 48 million people that the clashes may come to an end soon. A military expert explained to Radio Dabanga that the war between the SAF and the RSF cannot be resolved militarily.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An \u201cinformed Sudanese source\u201d expects a new round of negotiations between the two parties who have been fighting each other since April 15. The ongoing violent conflict has led to thousands of civilian deaths. More than five million people<\/a>, one in every 10 people across Sudan, fled their homes and sought refuge in safer places within the country or abroad. Over six million people in Sudan are one step away from famine<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is the first time since the outbreak of the war that the warring leaders are visiting Saudi Arabia. Earlier talks in the Saudi port town of Jeddah, under auspices of the USA and Saudi Arabia, were attended by representatives of both sides but not by the two commanders. More than once, they agreed on a ceasefire that collapsed just as many times, often during the first hours of the truce. For this reason, the negotiations were suspended in early June<\/a>. The talks resumed in July<\/a>, to no avail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pan-Arabic newspaper Al Arab<\/em> that brought the news today<\/a>, said that is not yet clear \u201cwhether the two generals and former partners in the transitional government administration will hold direct discussions under the auspices of the Saudi Crown Prince, or whether they will be indirect discussions\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The talks are expected to aim for a new ceasefire agreement and the establishment of a political roadmap between the two sides, the Arab Weekly<\/em>, put out by Al Arab<\/em> in London, reported.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo details have been disclosed yet by Sudanese nor Saudi official sources about the unannounced visit, which comes after the halt of US-Saudi-sponsored Jeddah negotiations between belligerents,\u201d the newspaper said. \u201cThe arrival of the two Sudanese figures in Saudi Arabia sends a positive signal about the possibility of a new stage that could usher in a ceasefire and set in motion preliminary steps towards a political settlement of the armed conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After his speech at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 21<\/a>, El Burhan told the BBC that he was prepared to meet Hemedti. \u201cWe are ready to participate in negotiations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hemedti, in a video message addressed to the #UNGA78 on the same day, Hemedti, said that his forces were fully prepared for a ceasefire and comprehensive political talks to end the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

War of attrition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An important factor for the arrival of the two commanders to Saudi Arabia could be the military setbacks suffered by the Sudanese army, especially in the capital, Khartoum, said Sudan experts. \u201cThis has apparently forced Burhan to return to the negotiating table, after his inability to settle the battle militarily in his favour,\u201d the Arab Weekly<\/em> stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Military expert Omar Rabbab yesterday confirmed this reading to Radio Dabanga yesterday. \u201cThe ceiling of the army’s victory, the expulsion of the RSF from Khartoum, could not be achieved, while the RSF is unable control any military area for three months. This forced the two parties to resort to artillery shelling, the air force, and drones,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe fighting between the army and the RSF started with ground clashes and later turned into aerial and artillery bombardments, while most wars begin with air and artillery bombardments, followed by ground attacks by infantry forces that step by step, occupying area by area, settles the battles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe current heavy bombing in Khartoum makes it clear that the war is still in its beginning, and this means a war of attrition,\u201d the military expert said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis war between the SAF and the RSF war cannot be resolved militarily, as both sides cannot eliminate the other. There is no other way than to address the crisis at the negotiation table, in order to prevent further military escalation and even more losses.\u201d<\/p>\n