Varied Reactions to the Developments in El Fasher

Varied Reactions to the Developments in El Fashe
Cairo – Sudanhorizon – Sabah Musa

With the continued horrific violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces militia after entering El Fasher on Sunday, Sudanese political forces continued to denounce and reject these actions.
But ranging from harsh rhetoric, severe attacks, and statements criticizing the actions without directing accusations, the views of Sudanese parties were divided among themselves.
One nationalist faction supports the Sudanese Armed Forces and the state, while another still insists on standing by the militia.

Ethnic Basis
While some political forces issued statements of condemnation, others limited themselves to posts and tweets on social media.
A statement issued by the Liberal Democratic Party, signed by its chairwoman, Mayada Swar al-Dahab, stated that, in a series of successive crimes and heinous violations, the terrorist Rapid Support Forces militia mercilessly killed innocent people on the basis of abhorrent ethnicity and regionalism in the most heinous human rights massacre the world has ever witnessed in the city of El Fasher. This massacre stands as a testament to the death of the global conscience regarding these crimes, which expose the falsity of slogans and double standards and confirm the shameful positions of international institutions, according to the statement.
The statement considered the international community’s silence regarding what is happening in El Fasher to be a green light for further violations by the militia and a desperate attempt to impose guardianship over the will of Sudan. It condemned these heinous crimes and demanded that the Rapid Support Forces be designated a terrorist organization, affirming the party’s support and confidence in the regular and armed forces.

We will not intimidated
For its part, the Popular Congress Party saluted the steadfastness of El Fasher and the sacrifices of its people. A statement issued by the party’s Secretary-General, Amin Mahmoud Mohamed Osman, stated that the enemy’s occupation of El Fasher has hurt all the people and the whole nation, but it failed to realize that this pain will not create fear that would lead to surrender. It added that it has inflamed their emotions and galvanized them to rush toward the holy jihad, which the forces of evil terrify.
But more importantly, it has raised the awareness of the Sudanese people that the thugs seek support from the external enemy that stands behind every attack on Sudan.
The Popular Congress Party called for a comprehensive national mobilization to cleanse Sudan of its enemies, stating that it is imperative to distinguish our ranks to resist and defend this attack on Sudan. It said they must completely liberate themselves from the deceptions of colonialism as it seeks to impose its dictates on the Sudanese government and people.
These dictates will ultimately lead to a split in the national ranks, and the sudanese peoplewill become weak and divided in their assessment of the roles of those countries that have been aggressing against them, whether covertly or overtly. It pointed out that a new phase of the war on Sudan has begun, and said, “We must renew a pledge that rises to the level of allegiance not to surrender to our enemy, for it is suffering as we suffered in El Fasher.” It called on the government to declare general mobilization.

Breaking the Wing
At the same time, the forces of “Sumud” group attempted to condemn the militia’s atrocities in El Fasher in tweets and posts on social media. However, they condemned the act, not the perpetrator, and merely demonstrated that what was happening was the very thing they had always called for: the necessity of ending the war. Meanwhile, the forces that established the political arm of the Rapid Support Forces are celebrating the occupation of El Fasher, seeing their entry as a victory and a consolidation of their position.

More Horrific
The joint forces have been fighting and defending El Fasher alongside the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) forces for more than a year and a half, with astonishing steadfastness. Without this, the city would have fallen more than a year ago. This indicates that a large and significant segment of these forces’ supporters in El Fasher refuses to accept any control over the region. This portends an even more horrific war if the militia succeeds in dividing Darfur.

A Strategic Dilemma
For his part, the official spokesman for the Justice and Equality Movement, Dr. Mohamed Zakaria, explained that the militia is deployed in most neighborhoods of El Fasher, but that clashes are still ongoing inside the city, particularly in the first-class neighborhood and its surroundings. He added that some supporting units are still fighting steadfastly, defending civilians. Zakaria told Sudanhorizon that El Fasher is a strategic nexus in the west of the country, and that any change in the situation on the ground there would be reflected in the conflict maps in Darfur and Sudan in general. He emphasized that what happened does not represent the end of the battle nor does it change its nature, adding that war is a series of advances and retreats, and that the balance of power on the fronts shifts gradually according to factors such as supply, environment, and legitimacy.

Reclaiming El Fasher
Zakaria pointed out that the resilience of the fighting pockets within the city, the continuation of national support lines, and the rising level of popular discontent with the militia’s crimes are all factors that keep open the possibility of a retreat and recapture of the city. He stated that the armed forces, along with the joint forces and supporting formations, possess the combat experience, human resources, and popular support that qualify them to recapture the city and expel the militia, just as they expelled it from Al-Gezirah and Khartoum. He added, “Our forces have previously thwarted the militia’s advances on several fronts and succeeded in recapturing vital points across the theaters of operations.”
He emphasized that liberating El Fasher and all areas where the militia is deployed will remain a legitimate and steadfast goal and a top national priority.

A Full-Fledged Massacre
The official spokesman for the Justice and Equality Movement indicated that the militia committed ethnically motivated murders against civilians in El Fasher. He said that this amounted to a full-fledged massacre, constituting a war crime and a crime against humanity under international law. He added that this criminal behavior, which disregards the sanctity of life and violates residential neighborhoods, has provoked the entire Sudanese people, and that the response will be proportionate to the crime and within the limits permitted by law and combat ethics. He emphasized that just retribution begins with accountability and the prevention of impunity. He emphasized that the position of the Sudanese state and its allies was and remains clear: the militia must comply with the Jeddah Declaration (May 11, 2023) as the basis for humanitarian truce measures and ceasefire arrangements. Otherwise, the alternative option is a military solution. He said that any talk of negotiations cannot progress while the militia continues to commit massacres and destroy cities. He added that any serious political path requires the withdrawal of the militia from residential neighborhoods and the opening of safe humanitarian corridors. He called on the regional and international communities
to bear their legal and moral responsibilities regarding the militia’s crimes, and to support relief efforts and protect civilians. He said that the battle in El Fasher is a phase of a broader conflict, not its finale. He added that this country’s destiny is for the will of its people and army to prevail over the machinery of chaos and discrimination. He continued, “We will fight wherever necessary to reclaim the city and protect its people. We will pursue every political path that does not equate the executioner with the victim and places justice at the foundation of any settlement.”

Grief is Victory
The Political Secretary of the original Democratic Unionist Party, Moataz Al-Fahl, believed that the grief over El Fasher expressed by the Sudanese people is the greatest victory for the city and its unbreakable will. Moataz told Sudanhorizon that El Fasher will be recaptured thanks to the determination and conviction of the people, the determination of the armed forces, and the massive reinforcements to prevent the destruction of unity and solidarity. He emphasized that no matter what defeat occurs, the resolve of the Sudanese people will prevail and El Fasher will return to its former glory. He said that the militia’s violations after entering El Fasher demonstrate to the entire world that it is a cancer that must be eradicated and uprooted so that Sudan and its neighbors can live in peace. He added that the political will, despite the surrounding circumstances, and the support of the joint forces and the mobilized forces alongside the army are a message of unity that endures and is stronger and more powerful in such circumstances.

Drawing Inspiration
Al-Fahal underlined the need to focus on how to reclaim El Fasher, El Geneina, Nyala, and every inch of the homeland from the filth of the rebellion. He said, “We must draw inspiration, lessons, and morals at this moment with unwavering strength and determination.” He added, “Our message is that we are Sudanese patriots, and that the Rapid Support Forces are a criminal militia.” He also called on the international community to take a real stand, thanking Sudan’s sister and friendly countries for their steadfast support since the beginning of the war.

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