Sudanese army forces have launched a multi-pronged offensive to retake control of Al-Jazirah state, a military source revealed on Friday. This follows a significant series of victories by the army led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan who are fighting the paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The conflict has been going on since April last year.
According to UNICEF the escalation in fighting in the state “has reportedly forced at least 150,000 children from their homes in less than a week, UNICEF warned today. The eruption of fighting in Al Jazirah means that more than half of states in Sudan – 10 out of 18 – are experiencing active conflict. An estimated 5.9 million people live in Al Jazirah State, with approximately half of the population being children.”
Sudan’s army will breathe a sigh of relief after this as their credibility had been hit as the RSF had captured Al Jazirah in December last year. The army’s recapture of the national television and radio stations has also somewhat restored its credibility. However, experts are waiting to see if it can hold on to this territory.
South Sudan has hinted at a resumption of peace talks which so far have failed. He revealed that collaboration between the US, Arab League, UN and regional bodies were on course to revive peace talks post Ramzan. The US has a particular interest in seeing conflict end in Sudan. Around 16,000 Sudanese-American nationals were estimated to be living in the country and though some are believed to have been evacuated many still remain trapped.
Sudan has been a geo-political contest between the major power. The US’s bid to introduce democracy in the war torn ended badly as they prioritised contacts between the warning generals rather than civilian leaders in the country. This ended badly leaving the US foothold in the country. Meanwhile, Russia’s Wagner forces are said to be in the country which is rich in gold mining. This money from gold is believed to be used in the ongoing Ukraine war. Ukraine is then believed to have carried out a series of a drone strikes in the country though all the players in the conflict have denied this along with the Sudanese army.
The other problem is the rise of Islamism in the country. Speaking to Arab News, Elbagar Elnazir, press secretary to Sudan’s former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who was removed from power in a 2021 military coup, said there were now multiple Daesh cells operating within Sudanese territory with ties to local Islamists. The fact that the ISIS spokesperson recently called for “lone wolf” attacks on the US and Europe from Africa is another reason for Washington to be very concerned.
