Army Chief vs the General
The Sudanese War Upfront
News | Opinion
A Concise Textualized Story on the War in Sudan with a Real Perspective on the Issues and Consequences.
By Hiba Deng | 6:32 PM EDT | July 21, 2023
The Sudanese war has deepened, and the people of Sudan are suffering at the hand of two brutal war mongers. But in the United States and major mainstream news outlets around the world broadcasting in America, I only hear about the wars in Ukraine and Israel.
Beginning on April 15, 2023, an armed conflict between two members of the Sudanese Military Government ensued. It was a war between Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Army Chief/the country’s President, and that of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (aka Hemetti or Hemedti), a Sudanese General from the Mehriya tribe of Awlad Mansur sub-clan in Darfur. He is the current Deputy Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, as well as leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). A paramilitary group formed in 2013, with its roots in the Janjaweed Militia that fought rebels in Darfur accused of killing hundreds in Sudan’s Darfur region due to ethnic cleansing.
The United States in May 2023 have issued 245 million in Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan and Neighboring Countries that is experiencing the impact of the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Included in these funds is approximately $143 million from the Department of State’s Bureau for Population, Refugee and Migration. In addition, $103 million in humanitarian assistance was allocated from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, according to the US State Department.
This sum brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance for the Sudanese people and neighboring Chad, Egypt, South Sudan, and Central Africa Republic to nearly $880 million for FY 2023. The United States—the largest single donor to humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa, promised to continue its work with the international and local partners to the much-needed economical ends to Sudan such as: food, water, medical care, and other lifesaving support to internally displaced persons, refugees, and others in extreme need as the crisis continues to grow.
WHAT HAPPENED IN SUDAN
The Army Chief, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, have caused extreme havoc, and upheaval on the people of Sudan as a result of their brutal armed conflict. They have caused massive civil unrest, crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and murder. As of May 6, 2023, over 600 innocent people have been killed, and another 5,000 injured as result of two individuals’ inability to share in the leadership of their own people. The same two military leaders who were once allies, and who both gained power during the violent turmoil in Darfur where approximately 300,000 people were murdered, and more than two-million people had to leave their homes amidst the violence.
The warring factions of both (Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, aka Hemetti or Hemedti) armies in Sudan are ruthless, unmerciful, and relentless. These leaders are Inflicting violence, mayhem, and the murders of the innocent people in Sudan daily. No one is granted a reprieve from the on-going violence. That goes for women, children, schools, churches, etc. It is part of their war strategy. Women are beaten and raped along with their precious little children (mostly the girls). Residents’ homes are looted and burned down to the ground as citizens watch and scramble for safety amid the chaos. Those who have survived the mayhem are aggressively forced to leave their homes for undesirable refugee camps.
It has been documented and reported by the United Nations that children have been recruited to fight in these vicious wars. Experts have estimated between 7,000 and 19,000 children (boys and girls) have been recruited as soldiers in South Sudan as of February 2021. (The Stimson Center: www.stimson.org) How can World Leaders continue to standby from their comfortable distance — watching the hemorrhaging of the Sudanese People — and not take steps to stop the bleeding, not only in Sudan but anywhere there is injustice and people are being slaughtered and having no means to defend themselves. The tears, screams, and prayers for somebody to care by extending a helping hand. How long will they have to wait?
In 2019, these two leaders orchestrated the Sudanese coup d’état which took place on April 11, 2019, arresting the presidential dictator. The two brought their troops together to successfully overthrow one of Sudan’s most repressive dictators. The ex-president, Omar Al-Bashir, who was performing ethnic-cleansing in the Darfur region (the massive expulsion or killing of unwanted religious or ethnic groups). Now the two have turned inward on each other in a heated battle in the capital of Khartoum for control of Sudan’s military, political, and business interest.
The primary dilemma among the Generals was Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo’s plans to install 100,000 RSF members into the Sudanese army and which one of the leaders would take control of the army’s leadership. Why couldn’t these two leaders come together as they did before and resolve this dilemma through compromise and a possible power sharing mechanism? Rather than starting a full-fledge war which is destroying people’s lives and killing maiming a staggering number of innocent residents (including children), as well as destroying their home and personal property.
On April 25, 2021, Sudan’s military led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan gained control of the Sudanese Government in an outright coup, which was not supported by the Civilian Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok, who was placed under house arrest on October 26, and later most of Hamdok’s Cabinet, and several of his pro-government supporters were detained, and/or arrested. This is an illegitimate war for the reason it’s for self-interest of the leaders themselves, to control Sudan’s military for use as their personal enforcer, as opposed to a conflict initiated to protect the Sudanese people and guard their rights to free/fair democratic state elections.
Like everything else, cutting through all the non-essential historical information, the bottom-line of this dispute is over money and power at the expense of the people of Sudan. Oil accounts for more than 70% to 90% of Sudan’s total export. The primary importers of Sudan’s oil are Japan, China, South Korea, Indonesia, and India. Asia and the Middle East were the major benefactors of Sudan’s and South Sudan’s crude oil. The United Arab Emirates was the sole export destination from the Middle East and the largest export destination by volume, up to 45% from both countries.
Sudan is also the third largest producer of gold in AFRICA, which General Dagalo control’s a portion of Sudan’s gold mines. The United States interest in Sudan is also surrounded around the country’s growing oil industry and attempting to end Sudan’s dictatorship and installing a democratic system (which has thus far failed). It’s believed that by installing a free election system to replace the current configuration, would open the door to the U.S. by installing their own puppet leadership. Again, it’s all about the “Benjamins”— the money!
Unfortunately, the people who reside in these war-torn countries are mere pawns used as a ploy to win a sympathetic edge in a war by self-righteous dictators. We see it in Sudan and in the Russia and Ukraine War. I find it amazing, and outright shameful that America and the United Nation see what is going on in Sudan and not take any real measures to intervene and put a stop to this humanitarian crisis. The citizens of Sudan surely can’t fight its government or a militarily strong militia. How many must die before the Cavalry Soldiers come in on their large horses and put a stop to the madness. The is requesting the United States, European Union, Canada, Etc., to intercede and help to stop the madness in Sudan as life for the people is unstainable at this juncture.
EVACUATION OF U.S. EMBASSY PERSONNEL
The United States have evacuated U.S. service personnel in a highly methodical, and efficient fashion. It was vastly different from that of the disastrous Afghanistan departure. The Pentagon’s Press Secretary, Airforce Brigadier General, Pat Ryder underscored remarks by the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin III’s appreciation of the 100 special operations forces who evacuated approximately 70 members of the U.S. embassy’s staff safely, and without issues. Three MH-47 Chinook helicopters landed on the ground in Khartoum, Sudan at the embassy and loaded in an hour’s time, and then left the area as the fighting was still raging between the two warring forces in Khartoum, Sudan.
The United States African Command and the Department of Defense is working closely with the State Department to help get American citizens wishing to leave Sudan, out. However, questions still abound of what to do with the innocent Sudanese people who are being murdered, raped, and whose homes are going up in flames, along with all their memories? They are forced to leave their villages for refugee camps. Camps that are run by a staff of individuals, some equally as bad as the armed military fractions they are running from. Who will be there for them? The fighting today is concentrated around the city of Khartoum and the Darfur region.
As of October 2023, in or around 10,000 people have been killed and 12,000 others injured. Please view the brave young Sudanese girl in the photo located at the bottom of this article holding-up her self-made sign of cardboard. It prominently displays the words: WORLD PEACE | STOP THE VIOLENCE | IT STARTS WITH YOU! Leaving nothing to the imagination — as she is asking for help! … What is America going to do to help? She is strong, determined, and fearless. I pray someone, some government sees her request, and moves to help to alleviate her and others suffering. She is BUTO personified!
