Sudan army commander declines to join interim council

KHARTOUM

Lieutenant-General Mohamed Hamdan Daqlo, commander of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has announced his decision not to join the country’s ruling Military Transitional Council (MTC).

In a Friday statement posted on the RSF’s official Facebook page, Daglo said Sudan was passing through a “sensitive phase” that would “require us to work together under the umbrella of the armed forces”.

“I would like to inform the Sudanese people that I… have declined to participate in the MTC,” he added.

Daglo went on to assert that his RSF would “remain part of the armed forces, work to preserve the country’s unity, continue to respect human rights, and protect the Sudanese people”.

The Sudanese army on Thursday announced the “removal” of President Omar al-Bashir, who has ruled Sudan since 1989, following months of popular protests against his rule.

It also announced the imposition of a two-year transitional phase to be overseen by the MTC.

In a statement released in the immediate wake of al-Bashir’s ouster, the RSF said it would “reject any solution that fails to meet the people's demands”, prompting speculation of a possible rift within Sudan’s military establishment.

*Writing by Ali Abo Rezeg