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History. 2023: BACKGROUND OF THE SUDANESE CONFLICT AND THE SUPREMACY BATTLE BETWEEN THE SAF AND THE RSF.
By PENGlobal.
Did you know that since independence in 1956, Sudan has had more than 15 military coups and has been ruled by the military for the majority of the republic’s existence, with only brief periods of democratic civilian parliamentary rule?
Sudanese woke up on Saturday, 15 April 2023, to clashes that broke out across the country, mainly in the capital city of Khartoum and the Darfur region. As of Friday, 21 April, just a week after the conflict began, not lower than 413 people have been killed and more than 3,500 injured.
The 2023 Sudan conflict is an ongoing armed conflict between rival factions of the military government of Sudan. The fighting began with attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on key government sites. Airstrikes, artillery and heavy gunfire were reported across Sudan including in Khartoum.
The RSF is a paramilitary organization with roots in Janjaweed militias that operated during the Darfur War. It was formally created by President Omar al-Bashir in 2013 and was led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. They gained notoriety for their crackdown on pro-democracy protestors during the Khartoum massacre in June 2019. The Bashir regime allowed several armed groups, including the RSF, to proliferate to prevent threats to its security from within the armed forces, a practice known as “coup-proofing”.
Both the RSF and the army have benefitted from security training and arms shipments from Russia in exchange for gold. The RSF and Dagalo’s consolidation of power went hand in hand with a rapid accumulation of wealth, with the paramilitary chief seizing key gold mining locations in Darfur, intervening as part of the Saudi-led coalition forces during the Yemeni Civil War, and colluding with the Russian private military outfit, Wagner Group. This led to RSF forces growing rapidly into the tens of thousands, including thousands of armed pickup trucks, which regularly patrolled the streets of Khartoum. However, Sudan has consistently denied the presence of the Russian outfit, Wagner, on its territory.
On 11 April 2023, RSF forces deployed near the city of Merowe and in Khartoum. Government forces ordered them to leave, but they refused, leading to clashes when RSF forces took control of the Soba military base south of Khartoum. The RSF began their mobilization on 13 April 2023, raising fears of a rebellion against the junta. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) said the mobilization was illegal.
As at when the conflict began on 15 April 2023, both RSF leader Dagalo and Sudan’s de facto leader and army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan claimed control of several key government sites, including the general military headquarters, the Presidential Palace, Khartoum International Airport, Burhan’s official residence and the SNBC headquarters.
The history of conflicts in Sudan has consisted of ethnic tensions, religious disputes, and competition over resources. In its modern history, two civil wars between the central government and the southern regions killed 1.5 million people, and a continuing conflict in the western region of Darfur has displaced two million people and killed more than 200,000 people.
Former president and military strongman al-Bashir presided over a war in the west of the country and oversaw state-sponsored violence in the region of Darfur, leading to charges of war crimes and genocide. In 2019, a coup d’état ousted al-Bashir in the context of massive civil disobedience that was often described as the first stage of the Sudanese Revolution. An interim joint civilian-military unity government headed by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was established.
However, in October 2021, the military seized power in a coup which was led by SAF leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Dagalo. Al-Burhan became the effective leader of the subsequent junta, monopolizing power. The junta later agreed to hand over authority to a civilian-led government, with a formal agreement scheduled to be signed on 6 April 2023.
However, it was delayed due to tensions between generals Burhan and Dagalo, who serve as chairman and deputy chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, respectively. Chief among their political disputes is the integration of the RSF into the military. One issue of contention is the RSF’s insistence on a ten-year timetable for its integration into the regular army, while the latter demands it be done in two years.
Other contested issues included the status given to RSF officers in the future hierarchy, and whether RSF forces should be under the command of the army chief – rather than Sudan’s commander-in-chief – who is currently Burhan. They have also clashed over authority over sectors of Sudan’s economy that are controlled by the two factions. As a sign of their rift, Dagalo expressed regret over the October 2021 coup.
Image Description/Credit: Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan © FT Montage/Getty/AFP/Dreamstime
Source:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Sudan_conflict
#penglobalhistory #Sudan
By Favour Bibaikefie
LAGOS — Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have uncovered a suspected baby factory in Badagry area of Lagos State, rescuing 28 persons during a late-night raid.
Authorities said those rescued included 18 adults and 10 children. Among the adults were 17 pregnant women, while one case involving a suspected miscarriage was also recorded. Two persons were arrested in connection with the operation.
The Lagos State Commandant of the NSCDC, Adedotun Keshinro, disclosed that the raid followed weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance.
According to him, the facility, located in Okuju-Ilado, Badagry, was made up of several apartments and had been monitored for about three weeks before security operatives moved in around midnight on Wednesday.
Keshinro alleged that the operators targeted vulnerable pregnant women by offering them financial inducements. He further claimed that the women were made to sign agreements and were subsequently restricted from leaving the premises freely.
Investigators also suspect that the syndicate used a fake social media profile to attract unsuspecting victims before moving discussions to private channels.
However, one of the arrested suspects denied wrongdoing, insisting that the women came willingly and that no unlawful activity took place.
A woman rescued from the premises reportedly told officials that she entered the facility voluntarily after being abandoned by the man responsible for her pregnancy.
Some community leaders in the area said residents had observed unusual movements around the compound but did not know the true nature of activities there until the security operation was carried out.
The NSCDC said both suspects and rescued victims would be transferred to the appropriate anti-human trafficking agency for further investigation and necessary action.
By Tama Peretengboro
ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stirred public discussion after making a remark in which he said he “took over leadership from myself” and described the late Muhammadu Buhari as being inseparable from his own political identity.
The statement, made during a public appearance captured in a viral video, quickly generated widespread reactions across political and social circles, with many Nigerians debating the meaning and context of the President’s comments.
Observers said the remarks appeared to underscore Tinubu’s close political association with Buhari and the continuity of governance between both administrations. Others interpreted the comments as an attempt to highlight the shared vision and alliance that existed between the two leaders during Buhari’s tenure.
Since assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu has repeatedly acknowledged Buhari’s role in the formation and electoral success of the All Progressives Congress, as well as the political transition that brought the ruling party to power.
The resurfaced clip has since fueled fresh commentary online, with supporters defending the statement as symbolic and critics questioning its phrasing.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency had not issued any formal clarification regarding the viral video.
See video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXOOaYSCG23/?igsh=MTF6MzJlOWptanJlYQ==
By Divine Perezide
BURUTU — The member representing Burutu State Constituency I in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Alapala Anthony Ebitonmo, has officially announced his intention to seek re-election in the 2027 polls.
Hon. Alapala made the declaration while addressing executives of the All Progressives Congress in Burutu Local Government Area, shortly after the release of the Independent National Electoral Commission timetable and the party’s schedule for the May 16 State Houses of Assembly primaries.
During the meeting, the lawmaker expressed gratitude to party leaders and members for their support during the 2023 general elections, particularly commending members in Burutu LGA for their steadfastness throughout the legal disputes that followed the polls.
He recalled that after his initial victory was overturned by the Court of Appeal, party loyalists remained committed until he eventually emerged victorious in the rerun election.
Speaking on his stewardship, Alapala said his administration had recorded notable progress despite the challenges that marked the early period of his tenure. He noted that the political developments in Delta State, including the alignment of major political blocs and the emergence of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as leader of the APC in the state, had created a more favourable atmosphere for governance.
The legislator stated that several constituency projects are ongoing across the six wards of Burutu North, stressing that grassroots development remains central to his agenda.
On human capital development, he disclosed that more than 50 constituents are currently serving in various appointments under his office, with beneficiaries drawn from all six wards to promote fairness and inclusion.
He further revealed that over 20 students from the constituency have benefited from scholarship opportunities facilitated through his office, while more than 790 students are receiving regular stipends under the Alapala Ebitonmo Students’ Support Scheme.
According to him, the initiative was introduced to reduce financial hardship among students and encourage academic success.
Hon. Alapala also said he had assisted several indigenes of Burutu North in securing empowerment opportunities as well as pensionable employment.
Reaffirming his commitment to public service, the lawmaker assured party stakeholders that if re-elected, he would build on the achievements already recorded and deliver greater democratic dividends to the people.
He also pledged continued loyalty to the APC and its guiding principles.