By Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, the leader of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has accused Egypt of conducting airstrikes against his troops in a recorded speech on Wednesday. This accusation marks a significant escalation in the ongoing Sudanese conflict, which has devastated the country for nearly 18 months.
Hemedti alleged that Cairo has been training and supplying drones to the Sudanese army, which has recently gained an upper hand in the conflict. He also claimed that Egypt used U.S.-supplied bombs in these strikes, suggesting American complicity: “If the Americans were not in agreement these bombs would not reach Sudan.”
The Egyptian foreign ministry swiftly denied these allegations, issuing a statement refuting any participation of Egyptian aviation in the ongoing war in Sudan. The ministry called on the international community to “ascertain the evidence that proves the truth of what the RSF militia leader said,” effectively challenging Hemedti to substantiate his claims.
Hemedti’s accusations come at a time when the Sudanese army has made significant advances in the capital Khartoum and the southeastern Sennar state. He specifically mentioned that alleged Egyptian airstrikes had pushed RSF troops back from the strategic Jebel Moya area in Sennar.
The RSF leader also made broader claims about foreign involvement in the conflict, mentioning the presence of Tigrayan, Eritrean, Azerbaijani, and Ukrainian mercenaries in Sudan. He reiterated previous accusations of Iranian participation alongside the Sudanese army.
In what appears to be a shift from previous statements supporting peace efforts, Hemedti warned of a prolonged conflict: “This war will not end in one or two, three, four years. Some talk about one million soldiers and soon we will reach one million.”
The ongoing war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has had devastating humanitarian consequences. It has displaced nearly 10 million people, triggered widespread hunger and famine, and seen waves of ethnically-driven violence, largely attributed to the RSF.
Egypt, while perceived as close to the Sudanese army and its chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has participated in U.S. and Saudi Arabia-led mediation efforts. Cairo also hosted talks between rival political factions earlier this year, positioning itself as a potential mediator in the conflict.
REUTERS
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