While tension still hangs over the Marawi region in the northern state of Sudan between the army forces and the Rapid Support Forces, informed sources reported today (Friday) that the army is stationed at the air base in Marawi.
According to military sources, the Rapid Support Forces continue to be stationed in areas close to that base for the third day, despite the army's demand for their withdrawal.
The sources pointed out that the security and military delegation that arrived in Marawi from Khartoum yesterday is still in the region, seeking to find a way out of the current crisis between the army headed by Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo "Hemedti". The sources described the situation inside the city as relatively calm, after the streets were devoid of manifestations of military build-up, with the movement flowing across the bridge linking the cities of Karima and Meroe.
The region witnessed unprecedented tension last Wednesday, after the Rapid Support Forces pushed hundreds of vehicles into an area near the military air base, which prompted the army to denounce and criticize that step, warning of the country entering into a dangerous security conflict. He stressed the necessity of the withdrawal of all mechanisms, considering that their deployment was in violation of the law and without coordination with the armed forces.
In the face of this dangerous scene, which foreshadowed the possibility of a deterioration in the security situation, voices called for calm, and meetings were held between the military and civilians, which resulted in the formation of a joint security committee in efforts to defuse the tension between the two largest military forces in the country.
It is noteworthy that previous differences between the two parties also surfaced during the security reform workshop that was held last March (2023) regarding the integration of Rapid Support elements into the army, and led to the postponement of the announcement of the final political agreement that was scheduled to be signed in early April for the return of Sudan. To the democratic path and the formation of a civilian government.
Okaz (Khartoum) @okaz_online