SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Radio Dabanga - Hemeti’s speech sparks speculations about the SAF and RSF split in Sudan

21/2/2023: Radio Dabanga - Hemeti’s speech sparks speculations about the SAF and RSF split in Sudan

Radio Dabanga report that analysts are speculating about a rift between Sudan’s army led by Abdulfattah al-Burhan, the chair of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia led by his deputy Himedti.

Mohamed Abdelaziz, journalist and political analyst, said Himedti “discovered that the [October 2021 coup] was only an attempt to restore [the remnants of al-Bashir’s regime] to power again,” with his statements revealing schisms with the army “that seriously widened” after the remnants returned to power.

Abdelaziz added that “al-Burhan seeks to exploit supporters of the former regime to overthrow Himedti or tame him in order to monopolise power,” before raising the prospect of a clash between the army and RSF “which could develop into an all-out civil war that may last for years and will eventually lead to the division of Sudan”.