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Hemedti Interview Reveals Rift Within Sudan Government

Deputy chairman of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. (AFP)
Deputy chairman of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. (AFP)
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Hemedti Interview Reveals Rift Within Sudan Government

Deputy chairman of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. (AFP)
Deputy chairman of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. (AFP)

Deputy chairman of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (“Hemedti”) accused parties in the transitional authority of conspiring against and demonizing Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which he commands. He also denied deploying forces to Libya.

Observers believe that Hemedti’s statements indicates the existence of a rift within the ruling coalition in Sudan.

This was not the first time Hemedti talked about the systematic targeting of his forces. He formerly accused several parties of seeking to remove his forces’ from the capital, Khartoum, and from the political equation in a plan to depose the incumbent civil transitional government.

In a May 24 interview broadcast on Sudan 24 TV channel, Hemedti revealed that the RSF had confronted a plot led by forces outside the security taskforces charged with crackdown on the protest in front of the General Command of the army in Khartoum on April 11.

He vowed to expose many hidden facts about the forces that partook in breaking the sit-in after the results of ongoing special investigations into the June 3, 2019 events are concluded. Hundreds were killed and many were injured during the unrest.

Hemedti also denied the presence of RSF units in Libya. Some parties had promoted the notion that RSF members had headed to Libya to fight as mercenaries.

Hemedti revealed, however, holding mediations between warring parties in Libya with the aim of ending the conflict, but they were rejected.

Sudanese political analyst Abdullah Rizk points out that the rift is widening within the ruling political coalition. This ushers in a new phase for rearranging the forces forming the transitional authority.

“The current situation is unstable, and Hemedti’s frequent appearances do not hide his fears of a conspiracy against him. Some are trying to blame him for breaking up the sit-in,” he said.

Rizk believes that the massacre that took place against protestors has contributed to spurring disputes among military ranks and reflects the fragility of the alliance between the military and civilians in the transitional authority.

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Lebanese Army Awaits Political Decision to Implement UNSCR 1701

Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).
Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).
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Lebanese Army Awaits Political Decision to Implement UNSCR 1701

Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).
Soldiers from the Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the southern village of Marjayoun (AFP).

Discussions are underway on the role of the Lebanese army in maintaining security in South Lebanon amid rising optimism about a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701

As part of these preparations, the Lebanese government has begun strengthening the army by recruiting 1,500 new soldiers out of the 6,000 needed, aligning with the outcomes of the Paris Conference held on October 23, which allocated 200 million euros to support the military institution, from a broader package intended to help the Lebanese people during the Israel-Hezbollah war.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, a security official highlighted that the army currently has 4,500 personnel stationed south of the Litani River but requires additional manpower.

The unidentified official noted, however, that any effective deployment would require a political decision and government support. “The Lebanese military will implement Resolution 1701 as is, with no intention of clashing with any party. However, if Israel violates Lebanese sovereignty, the army is fully prepared to respond,” he said.

Although Hezbollah opposes withdrawing from south of the Litani and handing over border security duties to the Lebanese military and UNIFIL, claiming the army lacks the capabilities to defend against Israeli aggression, the security source clarified that the military has been authorized to repel any attacks but will avoid initiating conflict. The army’s expanded deployment depends on a political decision, which, once made, will see the military act without hesitation to uphold Lebanese sovereignty.

While military preparedness is essential, Brigadier General Wehbeh Qatisha argues that Lebanon’s security requires more than just troops or advanced weaponry at the border. The presence of the Lebanese military as a representative of the Lebanese state is also a significant deterrent. He pointed out that prior to 1970, Israel refrained from attacking Lebanon, despite a much smaller army. However, he cautioned that even with a substantial deployment today, the persistence of Hezbollah’s military presence would continue to undermine Lebanon’s stability and security.

Since the 1969 Cairo Agreement, which allowed the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to launch operations against Israel from southern Lebanon, the Lebanese army has been restricted in its ability to enforce security along the border. After the PLO’s departure in 1982, Hezbollah took over military operations in the South. Even after the 2006 war and the adoption of Resolution 1701, which called for the Lebanese military and UNIFIL to secure the border, Hezbollah retained its armed presence and continued to conduct exercises simulating conflict with Israel. The latter violated the international resolution thousands of times, until the last war broke out against the background of turning southern Lebanon into a front supporting Gaza.

Qatisha emphasized that the path to stability lies in comprehensive implementation of international resolutions, particularly 1701 and 1559, and restricting arms to the Lebanese army. He argued that achieving balanced deterrence requires not only military force but also a commitment to diplomacy and international support.