Sudan: General Burhan Vows to Avenge for Wad Madani
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Hashim Sheikh
- . December 22, 2023
- . Update: December 22, 2023 11:28 pm
This week, Sudan witnessed the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group takeover the strategic city of Wad Madani. This has sent shockwaves across the country which has been gripped in conflict between the Sudanese Army and the RSF since April.
The fall of Wad Madani is said to be a huge blow to the prestige of the Sudanese Army that had promised to protect it. On Tuesday evening, the army informed the people in a statement that it had withdrawn from the city and a probe has been launched to look into the defeat.
There are fears that neighboring countries could be sucked into the conflict and make it far worse than it already is. So far, about 10,000 people have been killed in the war in Sudan.
General Burhan Slams Army
The army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan lashed out at negligent commanders for giving up the city to RSF. “We will hold every negligent commander accountable. Those who were responsible for this withdrawal will also be held accountable without leniency.”
The army is set to investigate the surprise withdrawal. Burhan said every soldier fulfills his duty with honesty and sincerity. “We will hold every negligent or retreating individual accountable. Those who forced this withdrawal will be held accountable.”
He also criticized unnamed political forces, alleged that they are employing the RSF to seize power in Sudan. Burhan believes global and regional powers want to colonize the country.
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Sudan Army Lacks Weapons
The commander of the Islamic Baraa Brigades al-Misbah bin Malik said they withdrew from Madani because of shortage of weapons and ammunition. He said has was carrying an unloaded Kalashnikov rifle. Reports say the RSF is equipped with antiaircraft missiles provided by the Russian Wagner group.
Kholood Khair, of Confluence Advisory, says the fall of Wad Madani shows that the failures go all the way to the top of the army. “Something has gone terribly wrong within the top brass of the Sudanese Armed Forces. It is something that even some of them don’t understand.”
Furthermore, Burhan is now seen as a weak leader. A former officer said Burhan will be gone as soon as the war ends. And with the fall of Wad Madani, the army chief is more vulnerable than ever.
