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.



Israel Says Apprehended Members of Iran-backed Cell in Syria

06 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Tulkarm: An Israeli soldier enforces a ban as he attempts to enter the Tulkarm refugee camp in the West Bank. Photo: Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
06 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Tulkarm: An Israeli soldier enforces a ban as he attempts to enter the Tulkarm refugee camp in the West Bank. Photo: Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Israel Says Apprehended Members of Iran-backed Cell in Syria

06 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Tulkarm: An Israeli soldier enforces a ban as he attempts to enter the Tulkarm refugee camp in the West Bank. Photo: Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
06 July 2025, Palestinian Territories, Tulkarm: An Israeli soldier enforces a ban as he attempts to enter the Tulkarm refugee camp in the West Bank. Photo: Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Israel's military said Monday it had apprehended members of an Iran-backed cell in southern Syria, the second such operation it has announced in the past week.

Since the December overthrow of Syria's longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes primarily on military sites and carried out cross-border ground raids.

In a statement, the military said troops "completed an overnight operation to apprehend a cell that was operated by the Iranian Quds Force in the Tel Kudna area of southern Syria."

"For the second time in the past week... troops completed a targeted overnight operation and apprehended several operatives who posed a threat in the area," the statement added.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said Israeli forces raided early Monday a village in the Quneitra countryside of southern Syria and "carried out searches targeting several homes, which ended with the arrest of two brothers".

On Wednesday, Israel's military said its forces had apprehended members of an Iranian-backed "terrorist cell" in southern Syria and seized weapons.