ABDEL-FATTAH AL-BURHAN ABDELRAHMAN AL-BURHAN, President of the Transitional Sovereign Council of Sudan, said that since 15 April the Sudanese people have faced a destructive war brought about by the Rapid Support Forces, which have established alliances with internal and international forces and brought in mercenaries from other parts of the globe.  They have killed, looted, raped, robbed and seized citizens’ homes and properties, and destroyed infrastructure and Government buildings.  “They intend to obliterate the history of the Sudanese people,” he said, noting their attacks on museums and court registers and the looting of banks and corporations.  They have also released prisoners, including people wanted as terrorists.  These rebel groups have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, including sexual violence.

 He called on the international community to designate these groups and their allies as terrorist groups to protect the Sudanese people and others.  “They have killed thousands and displaced millions,” he said.  He said the Government has responded to all initiatives for peace extended by others, such as the Jeddah meeting organized by the United States and Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and South Sudan.  Yet the rebels have refused all initiatives and continue to commit genocide.

Some people say this is an internal feud, yet it extends to all areas of the country and creates a threat to regional and international security, he said, adding:  “It is like a spark of war that will spill over to other regions.”  He thanked the Secretary-General and the United Nations and its agencies for their support and humanitarian aid.  The Government has opened ports and airports and allowed convoys to bring assistance to people in need.  He called on all agencies to fill the gaps and meet the Sudanese people’s needs for food, medicine and shelter.  This is a war launched by the rebel commander Mohamed Dagalo, he stressed.

He stressed he is committed to a transfer of power to the Sudanese people through a peaceful and legitimate process.  A period of transition can be followed by general elections.  He expressed full commitment to the Juba Peace Agreement signed in 2020.  He also stated his commitment to support women, children and vulnerable segments of society, and to the Sustainable Development Goals, pointing out that the freeze on international assistance has directly impacted the country’s ability to achieve the Global Goals.  He again appealed to donors to address the humanitarian situation in Sudan.  He also reiterated his demands that the Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias be designated as terrorist groups.  This, he stressed, is needed to firmly address their sponsors, who have supported killing, burning, raping, torture and the transfer of arms and drugs into the region.  He reiterated that legitimate State forces would not allow the violation of State sovereignty at any cost.  He called on regional organizations to work in the interests of the African people, stressing that he would not allow some external parties to impose solutions to Sudanese problems according to their own interests.