By CHIMPREPORTS
Ugandan leader, Yoweri Museveni has this Wednesday met with Sudan’s rebel leader, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The development comes as Dagalo’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia continues to capture new territories from government forces.
Uganda’s presidency said Museveni met with Gen. Dagalo, “the former Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of Sudan, at his country home in Rwakitura, Kiruhura District.”
“The two leaders discussed, among other things, ways to put an end to the continued conflict in Sudan,” the statement from State House added.
On April 15, 2023 the RSF led by Dagalo alias “Hemedti” attempted a coup d’état in Sudan’s capital city of Khartoum to seize power over the country.
The militia tried to capture Khartoum airport, the presidential palace and the army bases.
Since then, fighting has been raging in different parts of Sudan.
On December 21, the United Nations said the latest surge in fighting in Sudan had displaced up to 300,000 people as conflict spread to the country’s second largest city, Wad Madani.
Dagalo speaks out
In a statement issued this evening, Dagalo said during today’s meeting with Museveni, “we discussed developments in the situation in Sudan and the resulting suffering of the Sudanese people.”
He added: “I provided His Excellency President Museveni with a detailed explanation about the reasons for the outbreak of the war, which was ignited by the remnants with the help of their leaders in the armed forces and the parties that obstruct the solution and support the continuation of the war.”
Dagali said he presented RSF’s “vision to negotiate, stop the war, and build the Sudanese state on new, just foundations.”
President Museveni, according to Dagalo, “affirmed his full support for our people and work to advance efforts to achieve peace and stability in Sudan, indicating that he will harness all his capabilities and relationships to help the Sudanese overcome this difficult stage in their history.”
Dagalo thanked President Museveni for the warm welcome and hospitality and also the Ugandan people for their solidarity and hosting large numbers of Sudanese who were forced by war to leave Sudan.
Nearly half a million people have fled to the state since war broke out in April between the Sudanese Army and RSF.
“We still adhere to the outcomes of the IGAD Presidents’ Summit held in Djibouti, and we will continue to implement what we committed to in order to end the war, relieve the suffering of our people, and restore security and stability to our country,” said Dagalo.
ChimpReports understands that Dagalo has been facing pressure from the international community to stop fighting or face possible war crimes prosecution in international courts.
The United Nations recently formed a committee to investigate war crimes committed in Sudan since the outbreak of the war in April.
Gen Dagalo yesterday said he had received a letter from former Sudan Prime Minister Dr. Abdalla Hamdok, who doubles as the leader of the Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (CCDF), “inviting us to an urgent meeting to discuss strategies to end this war and address its impacts.”
Dagalo said, “With a sense of urgency and responsibility, I embrace the prospect of holding this critical meeting as soon as possible. We will immediately begin to discuss the meeting arrangements. We welcome all national initiatives aimed at fostering peace and reducing the hardships resulting from this war.”
Human rights violations
The UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Nderitu, recently expressed grave concern over the intensification of violence in and around Wad Madani as well as in El Fasher, North Darfur, and in Nyala, South Darfur.
Ms. Nderitu was alarmed that the scale-up in clashes includes very serious allegations of ethnically motivated violence as well as deliberate attacks against medical personnel and facilities, which could constitute international crimes.
She reiterated her concerns that the ongoing spread of violence could completely engulf Sudan.
“After eight months of continued fighting and horrific levels of violence, with all the signs of atrocity crimes having been committed, the wheel of violence keeps turning.
“The price continues to be paid by those who are most vulnerable, who are imploring for safety and for justice, and who are receiving neither,” she said.
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