The Sudanese army has lifted the two-year siege of el-Obeid, following the RSF’s agreement to form a breakaway government. The charter outlines a transition to a secular and democratic state while allowing for the existence of armed groups. The RSF faces challenges in consolidating power despite gaining support from allied factions.
The Sudanese army has successfully ended the two-year siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the strategic city of el-Obeid. This development follows the RSF’s signing of a charter to establish a breakaway government. On Sunday, the army announced they regained control of el-Gitaina, located south of Khartoum, thus lifting the siege on el-Obeid shortly after RSF’s political agreement in Kenya.
The political charter signed emphasizes Sudan’s transition into a “secular, democratic, non-centralised state” with a unified national army while still allowing armed groups to exist. The RSF and the army have been in conflict since April 2023. Recently, Abdelaziz al-Hilu’s faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North joined the RSF in signing the charter, enhancing the RSF’s support.
Despite RSF’s control over much of Darfur, their inability to secure their position and potential loss of Khartoum stands imminent. Hilu maintains a strong influence in South Kordofan and parts of Blue Nile state, which could expand the RSF’s access to border regions with allied countries, though Egypt opposes the RSF charter.
The situation has raised alarms at the UN due to the country’s disintegration amid violence that has resulted in mass casualties and displacement. Hemeti faces allegations of severe human rights abuses including genocide, with subsequent sanctions by the U.S. in January.
The African Union has labeled the conflict as the worst humanitarian crisis globally. Recently, medical charity MSF announced the suspension of operations in the Zamzam displacement camp as conflicts escalated, compounding the existing famine crisis affecting the camp’s residents.
The Sudanese army has regained control of el-Obeid, ending a prolonged RSF siege, following a newly signed political charter for a parallel government. The RSF continues to gain support from political factions amid ongoing conflict, raising concerns about Sudan’s stability. The humanitarian situation remains dire, emphasizing the urgency for international intervention to address widespread human rights abuses and alleviate the humanitarian crisis.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
