INTERNATIONAL
Sudan urges international community to label RSF a terrorist group
Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Sudan’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Hassan Abdel Salam Omer, urged governments to take decisive action against the RSF - Maziah Barek Miji/Astro AWANI
KUALA LUMPUR: Sudan has called on the international community to formally designate the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a terrorist organisation, describing the paramilitary group’s actions in El Fasher as “a campaign of extermination and terror.”
Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, Sudan’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Hassan Abdel Salam Omer, urged governments to take decisive action against the RSF, which has been engaged in a conflict with Sudan’s Armed Forces since April 2023.
“What we want, what the Sudanese would like to call, really on all peace-loving people and governments, is to look into this and to designate the RSF as a terrorist organisation, because it is truly a terrorist organisation,” Hassan said.
His comments came amid reports that Sudan’s Armed Forces and the RSF had agreed in principle to a ceasefire mediated by the United States. Hassan, however, denied that any agreement had been reached.
“We didn’t reach any agreement on this till now, and I haven’t received anything confirming that,” he said. “We in Sudan are open to any initiatives or facilitation that can bring an end to this ugly war. But our experience shows us that you cannot trust the RSF.”
Hassan noted that earlier in the conflict, the Sudanese government had accepted the Jeddah Declaration, a U.S. and Saudi-mediated platform aimed at securing a truce, but said the RSF had repeatedly violated ceasefire agreements.
He also reiterated that any peace efforts must preserve Sudan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and the creation of a unified national army.
“Our stand is with any peace initiative that meets the aspirations of the Sudanese people, the integrity of their territory, the sovereignty of their state, and the continuation of democratic transformation under one army, one command,” Hassan said.
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has entered its second year, displacing nearly 13 million people.
Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, Sudan’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Hassan Abdel Salam Omer, urged governments to take decisive action against the RSF, which has been engaged in a conflict with Sudan’s Armed Forces since April 2023.
“What we want, what the Sudanese would like to call, really on all peace-loving people and governments, is to look into this and to designate the RSF as a terrorist organisation, because it is truly a terrorist organisation,” Hassan said.
His comments came amid reports that Sudan’s Armed Forces and the RSF had agreed in principle to a ceasefire mediated by the United States. Hassan, however, denied that any agreement had been reached.
“We didn’t reach any agreement on this till now, and I haven’t received anything confirming that,” he said. “We in Sudan are open to any initiatives or facilitation that can bring an end to this ugly war. But our experience shows us that you cannot trust the RSF.”
Hassan noted that earlier in the conflict, the Sudanese government had accepted the Jeddah Declaration, a U.S. and Saudi-mediated platform aimed at securing a truce, but said the RSF had repeatedly violated ceasefire agreements.
He also reiterated that any peace efforts must preserve Sudan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and the creation of a unified national army.
“Our stand is with any peace initiative that meets the aspirations of the Sudanese people, the integrity of their territory, the sovereignty of their state, and the continuation of democratic transformation under one army, one command,” Hassan said.
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has entered its second year, displacing nearly 13 million people.