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Sudan: Hemedti's Forces Call for Handing over Power to Civilians

The commander of the Rapid Support Forces, in a meeting with his forces, Feb. 19 (Reuters)
The commander of the Rapid Support Forces, in a meeting with his forces, Feb. 19 (Reuters)
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Sudan: Hemedti's Forces Call for Handing over Power to Civilians

The commander of the Rapid Support Forces, in a meeting with his forces, Feb. 19 (Reuters)
The commander of the Rapid Support Forces, in a meeting with his forces, Feb. 19 (Reuters)

Deputy Commander of the Rapid Support forces in Sudan Abdel-Rahim Dagalo the brother of General Mohamed Hamdan Hemedti announced the need to hand over power to civilians, in line with the framework agreement.

Addressing supporters in Khartoum on Saturday, Dagalo said: “Our message to our brothers in the authority is to hand over power to the people… From now on, we will not allow the killing of young demonstrators or the arrest of politicians.”

His statements come following an escalating verbal dispute between the leaders of the Rapid Support forces and army commanders during the past two weeks, especially over the merging of the Support forces and other armed movement forces into the army.

Although the Rapid Support Forces are officially affiliated with the army, they have maintained a kind of independence since their establishment, under the leadership of Hemedti.

The latter returned to Sudan on Thursday, following a visit to the United Arab Emirates, which lasted more than a week.

Hemedti - who also holds the position of Vice-President of the Sovereignty Council in Sudan - did not address in his speech the current political situation in the country, but renewed his commitment to implementing the framework agreement, according to the specified timetables.

He urged the parties to the peace process and the armed factions to increase work and coordinate efforts to implement the agreement, calling on the non-signatory armed movements to join the peace process.

He also called on the regional and international community and donors to mobilize financial and technical support to help complete the implementation of the terms of the peace agreement, especially in the development aspect, projects for the return of the displaced and refugees, and security arrangements.

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Security Council Urges Syrian Authorities to Protect Minorities

Security personnel inspect vehicles at a checkpoint set up to confiscate stolen items, in Latakia, Syria March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Security personnel inspect vehicles at a checkpoint set up to confiscate stolen items, in Latakia, Syria March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
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Security Council Urges Syrian Authorities to Protect Minorities

Security personnel inspect vehicles at a checkpoint set up to confiscate stolen items, in Latakia, Syria March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Security personnel inspect vehicles at a checkpoint set up to confiscate stolen items, in Latakia, Syria March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

The UN Security Council has condemned the widespread violence in several provinces in Syria, calling on the interim authorities “to protect all Syrians without distinction.”

In a presidential statement it adopted unanimously on Friday, the Council “condemned the widespread violence perpetrated in Syria’s Latakia and Tartus provinces since 6 March — including mass killings of civilians among the Alawite community.”

The Council “condemned attacks targeting civilian infrastructure” and “called on all parties to immediately cease all violence and inflammatory activities and ensure the protection of all civilian populations and infrastructure, as well as humanitarian operations.”

It said “all parties and States must ensure full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to those affected and the humane treatment of all persons. The Council also urged a rapid increase of humanitarian support across Syria.”

The Council “called for swift, transparent, independent, impartial and comprehensive investigations to ensure accountability and bring all perpetrators of violence against civilians to justice.”

It took note of the Syrian interim authorities’ establishment of an independent committee to investigate such violence and identify those responsible.

The Council also noted the Syrian decision to establish a committee for civil peace.

It renewed its call for an inclusive political process led and owned by Syrians, facilitated by the UN and based on the principles outlined in resolution 2254. “This includes safeguarding the rights of all Syrians — regardless of ethnicity or religion — meeting their legitimate aspirations and enabling them to peacefully, independently and democratically determine their futures.”

Meanwhile, the Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, hoped that the Constitutional Declaration issued by the Syrian authorities “will move Syria toward restoring the rule of law and promoting an orderly inclusive transition.”

Pedersen issued a statement on the fourteenth anniversary of the war in Syria.

“Now is the time for bold moves to create a genuinely credible and inclusive transitional government and legislative body; a constitutional framework and process to draft a new constitution for the long term that is credible and inclusive too; and genuine transitional justice,” he said.

“More than three months since the fall of the Assad regime, Syria now stands at a pivotal moment,” he added.

The Special Envoy called for “an immediate end to all violence and for protection of civilians in accordance with international law” and called “for a credible independent investigation into the recent killings and violence, and for the full cooperation of the caretaker authorities with the United Nations in this regard.”