RSF chief ‘Hemetti’ engages Ruto, commits to IGAD-supported Jeddah talks

FILE | RSF Commander General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo 'Hemetti' during a meeting with President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 24 — Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Commander General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ‘Hemetti’ has expressed his commitment to IGAD-supported Jeddah peace talks co-led by Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Hemetti, who is engaged in a vicious battled General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of Sudan following a fallout in April, said he gave the assurance during a phone call with President William Ruto on Friday.

Although State House did not formally confirm the engagement, it came a week after Ruto separately met other actors in Sudan including General al-Burhan and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who led a civilian authority following a 2019 coup that ousted President Omar al Bashir in 2019.

“I discussed with His Excellency, Kenyan President William Ruto recent developments in Sudan in light of the ongoing conflict and the need to end the suffering of the Sudanese people,” Hemetti said.

“We agreed to support the Jeddah platform led by Saudi Arabia and the United States, with the participation of the African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to resolve this crisis,” added.

The paramilitary leader who deputized General al-Burhan as Vice President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of Sudan emphasized on the need for IGAD’s input to the process.

“We also stressed the importance of IGAD’s role and affirmed our commitment to continued, coordinated efforts to alleviate the hardship faced by the people,” he stated while lauding Ruto’s “ongoing support for our people and his diligent efforts to achieve stability in Sudan and across the region”.

Hemetti’s apparent meeting with Ruto in Nairobi came amid international pressure to cessation of hostilities against civilian populations.

The United States, United Kingdom and Norwaysingled out attacks by Hemetti-led RSF in West, Central and South Darfur in a joint statement on November 17.

The Troika condemned escalating clashes in Sudan’s Darfur region deploring rights violations in an ongoing armed conflict.

“These [attacks] have included – according to credible reports – mass killings including ethnic targeting of non-Arab and other communities, killings of traditional leaders, unjust detentions, and obstruction of humanitarian aid,” the Troika stated.

“We are also concerned by reports of violence in the town of Jebel Aulia, on the White Nile River, where there are reports of targeting of civilians,” the joint statement added.

The Troika renewed calls for concerted efforts to return the country to a civilian rule saying a military solution was not an option.

“We reiterate that there is no acceptable military solution to the conflict, and call for an end to the fighting,” it said.

“We urge the RSF and SAF (Sudanese Armed Forces) to refrain from actions that would further divide Sudan along ethnic lines or draw other forces into their conflict,” the triad appealed.

The United States, United Kingdom and Norway emphasized on the need by the two warring parties to “deescalate and engage in meaningful discussions that lead to a ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access.”

The three nations voiced their support for resumption of talks under the Jeddah Process facilitated jointly by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the IGAD which Kenya is part of.