Gen. Hemeti reiterates support for Burhan, says ‘small group’ wants to cling to power

KHARTOUM – The commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who is better known as Hemeti, has reiterated his support for the decision by General Abdelfattah al Burhan last month to declare a state of emergency and dissolve the transitional government saying a group of few politicians want to control power in Sudan.

In a recorded speech, Hemeti said that “the decisions of October 25 were caused by the failure of reform due to the clinging of a small group to power,” stressing the commitment to “democratic transition, holding elections in 2023, and forming an independent civilian government.”

For his part, General Abdelfattah al Burhan said what he did last October is not a coup, and that discussions are taking place with various political forces to form a civilian government of independent civilian competencies, or what would be a technocratic government.

In an interview with Al Jazeera English, Al-Burhan confirmed that he would not back down from the decisions he took last month, praising “the efforts of the international community to support the transitional period.” He also rejected what he called “threats,” and said that he would not be part of any government that comes after the transitional period.

He pointed out that peaceful demonstration is a legitimate right, and that incitement to sedition will not be allowed, pointing out that the alliance of Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) is made up of about 100 political components, but said the group’s decisions are always taken by only 4 out of the 100 groups.