تطورات السودان: هزيمة وشيكة لميليشيات الدعم السريع وداعميها الإماراتيين

Quote: Sudan’s military victory signals the imminent defeat of the RSF and its UAE backers 0 Comment | Be the first January 14, 2025 at 4:15 pm People take to the streets of Port Sudan to celebrate the reported advance of Sudanese military forces and allied armed groups on the key Al-Jazira state capital Wad Madani, held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), on January 11, 2025 [-/AFP via Getty Images] by Khalil Charles khalilcharles by Hamaad Haamid facebook sharing buttontwitter sharing buttonreddit sharing buttonwhatsapp sharing buttonemail sharing buttonsharethis sharing button In comments posted on X, Sudanese commentator Taj Al-Sir Othman compared the liberation of Wad Madani to that of Aleppo in Syria: “If Aleppo was the beginning of the collapse of the Iranian dream in the Levant, then Wad Madani is the real beginning of the collapse of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s destructive dreams in Sudan.” His comments marked the liberation of Wad Madani, the capital of Al-Jazira state and Sudan’s second-largest city, by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) last Saturday. The victory is a glimmer of hope for Al-Jazira residents and Sudan after a year-long violent occupation of the city by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The liberation of Wad Madani also reflects a decisive shift in the trajectory of Sudan’s civil war. It indicates a change in the power balance within the country. This advancement returned the frontline to its position before the RSF invasion of Al-Jazira, nearer Khartoum. In conjunction with advances in the tri-city capital’s Omdurman and Bahri, Khartoum now sits squarely in the crosshairs of the SAF. Posts on social media are now predicting that the army could storm Khartoum at any moment. The recapture of Wad Madani is a pivotal development. It lines strategically at the crossroads for key supply routes linking several states with Port Sudan and is close to the capital. It is the capital of Al-Jazira state, Sudan’s breadbasket, an agricultural hub situated between the two Nile rivers. More importantly, the recapture of Wad Madani is a much-needed morale boost for the SAF and their allied militias, which have vowed to continue operations until all RSF-held territories are liberated. Since the liberation of Sennar, south of Wad Madani, the SAF and allied forces had been steadily progressing north towards Wad Madani. Making advances along the way, the SAF retook the towns of Al-Shabarga, Hajj Abdallah and Umm Al-Qura earlier in the week, as well as some smaller villages. READ: Central Bank of Sudan resumes operations in Khartoum for the first time since April 2023 On 12 January, the SAF accelerated the advance and allied forces entered Wad Madani via the Hantoub Bridge from east of the Nile. After clearing the city of RSF militia, they released detainees held in makeshift RSF prisons. Reports indicated that detainees were held in extremely poor conditions, suffering from starvation, torture and lack of medical attention. According to the Sudan Tribune, the field commander for the SAF in Wad Madani ordered the detainees be taken to hospital for treatment before returning to their families. North of Wad Madani, the SAF advances continued. Sudan Shield Forces, the battalion commanded by Abu Agla Keikel, the former RSF commander who defected to the SAF, along with Popular Resistance volunteers, have reported control over Rafaa, the capital of East Al-Jazira, Tamboul and nearby villages, east of the Nile. According to SAF military sources, RSF militiamen have been retreating to RSF positions in north Al-Jazira, nearer to Khartoum. However, recent reports warn returning residents to delay the return to villages until the remaining RSF forces are cleared out. In social media reports, Commander of the RSF Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo conceded defeat in Wad Madani. He attributed the SAF victory to its use of Iranian drones and aerial bombardments. Ironically, he accused SAF of deploying foreign troops, a well-documented practice of the RSF. Dagalo addressed his troops via the RSF’s Telegram account, asserting: “We have been fighting for 21 months; we will fight them for another 21 years and the scales will change.” Amidst the jubilation, Wad Madani is a city bereft of basic services. There is a complete power outage and water is unavailable from government sources. According to government officials in Wad Madani, the RSF militia vandalised government equipment and looted supplies. Currently, damages in Wad Madani are being assessed and officials are working to restore services as quickly as possible. Security is also a concern for displaced residents eager to return. The SAF has cautioned residents against returning until unexploded shells are removed and the city can be secured. Commenting on residents forced to stay during the RSF occupation, government spokesperson Khalid Al-Aiser said the Sudanese government’s approach is not to punish citizens based on suspicions or hearsay without proof of involvement with the RSF. Residents retain their full rights as citizens and will not be deprived of them. The latest developments in Wad Madani, with the SAF victory and the recent international sanctions placed on RSF by the US, have now minimised the likelihood of the paramilitary group ever returning to its status before the war. This week, the US administration issued sanctions against Dagalo and seven RSF-owned companies in the UAE. After months of evidence and testimonials at the United Nations, the Joe Biden administration finally sanctioned the RSF and its proxies. Short of designating the group as a terrorist organisation, the administration did conclude that the RSF was, in fact, committing genocide. These turns of events have rendered initiatives null and void, particularly the mediation attempt by the Turkish government to resolve the relationship between Sudan and the UAE, accused of fuelling the Sudan war. The initiative proposed the legitimisation of the RSF, a blanket amnesty and the RSF’s integration into the Sudan Army under Turkish and UAE supervision. However, the US sanctions on the RSF effectively rendered this proposal a moot point. This is a nail in the coffin of the RSF and their allies removing any bid for legitimacy, politically or militarily. Included in the initiative was a provision for a civilian government and the reinstatement of Abdullah Hamdok as prime minister. On 2 January, news agency Reuters reported on Tagadum’s announcement of the formation of a new civilian-led government to be declared in areas of Sudan controlled by the RSF. Tagadum and Hamdok’s alliance with the RSF has become a political albatross. It leaves some commentators to suggest that the group can no longer be considered worthy of inclusion in the negotiations concerning the future of Sudan. READ: 48 hours after liberating Wad Madani, Sudan army regains control of Tambul The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.