Ex-Egyptian Diplomat to Sudanhorizon: Militia Drone Strikes Signal Desperation, Will Not Weaken Army’s Position

Sabah Musa – Cairo – Sudanhorizon

Ambassador Hossam Issa, former Assistant Foreign Minister and head of the Sudan and South Sudan Department at Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that recent drone strikes on Port Sudan by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia aim to destabilize vital infrastructure and weaken the resilience of the Sudanese people.

Issa, who previously served as Egypt’s ambassador to Khartoum, emphasized that the RSF shows no regard for the toll its attacks take on civilians, despite its claims of acting in the people’s interest.

“These drone strikes are targeting critical civilian infrastructure—airports, power stations, fuel depots, and roads,” he said. “It marks a qualitative shift in the conflict, fueled by the continuous inflow of weapons to the militia.”

He warned that this escalation now threatens Port Sudan and the wider eastern region, which had largely been spared from the fighting since the conflict erupted on April 15, 2023. Issa described the tactic as a “desperate” move by the RSF following a string of military setbacks.

According to Issa, the Sudanese Armed Forces have recently achieved significant gains in Khartoum, Al-Jazeera, and Sennar, while El Fasher continues to resist RSF siege attempts. He argued that the RSF’s latest actions are aimed at boosting its morale and projecting relevance on the battlefield.

“The armed forces and state institutions are the backbone of Sudan’s stability,” Issa said. “Militias, by contrast, undermine state unity, as their loyalties lie not with the nation, but with tribes, regions, or foreign interests.”

He reiterated Egypt’s longstanding stance: that all weapons must fall under state control and serve national interests, not factional or external agendas. “This is the essential difference between a national army and a militia,” he said. “It explains Egypt’s support for Sudan’s armed forces and its condemnation of attacks on civilians.”

Issa noted that public opinion in Sudan aligns with this view. The large-scale displacement of civilians into army-controlled areas, and their flight from RSF-held zones, he argued, is a de facto referendum of support for the military and a rejection of militia actions.

He called on all regional and international actors to cease supporting the RSF or allowing their territories to be used as arms corridors. “If this war continues unchecked, its consequences will spill across borders,” he warned. “We must not underestimate the damage inflicted on Sudan’s infrastructure and what little remains of its national capabilities.”

Issa stressed that further destruction would only deepen the crisis and could lead to the collapse of the Sudanese state, with dangerous implications for both the region and the world. He highlighted Sudan’s strategic position—bordering seven countries and facing the Red Sea—as a factor elevating the stakes for international trade and regional stability.

“These attacks will not alter the army’s strategic advantage,” he added, noting that the military has already begun adapting to the new threat and can neutralize the drones.

Issa also addressed political forces aligned with the RSF and those seeking to establish a parallel government, urging them to reconsider their stance in light of the national interest. He stressed the importance of setting aside narrow political rivalries to preserve Sudan’s unity.

“Egypt remains one of the most invested countries in Sudan’s stability,” he said. “It has played a greater role than many internal actors, not just in diplomacy but in humanitarian support—hosting millions of Sudanese refugees and offering development assistance despite its economic challenges.”

Despite criticisms from some Sudanese factions, Issa said Egypt has consistently supported the Sudanese state. He called on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities and questioned the logic behind forming a parallel government, warning that such a move could push Sudan toward becoming a failed state—an outcome already seen in other regional conflicts.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=5529