Sudan's Army Chief Warns UN: Ongoing War With Russian-Linked Wagner Mercenaries 'Will Spill Over To Other Countries'

Sudan’s army chief and the de facto ruler of the country, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has appealed to the United Nations, warning that the ongoing war might spill over borders.

What Happened: Al-Burhan emphasized the need for international pressure on the paramilitary unit he is currently battling against, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), AFP reported.

The RSF has connections with the Russian mercenary group, Wagner, which is under Western sanctions for alleged abuses in Africa.

“The danger of this war is now a threat to regional and international peace and security as those rebels have sought the support of outlaws and terrorist groups from different countries in the region and the world,” Al-Burhan said.

“This is like the spark of war, a war that will spill over to other countries in the region,” he said.

“Regional and international interference to support these groups is crystal clear now. This means that this is the first spark that will burn the region, and will have a direct impact on regional and international peace and security.”

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Why It Matters: The conflict began on April 15 following the failure of a plan to integrate the army and the RSF. The war has resulted in at least 7,500 deaths and displaced around five million people, as reported by the NGO Acled.

The army chief, who has been traveling globally to bolster his legitimacy, called on the international community to designate the RSF as a terrorist group due to its extensive list of crimes, including killing, forced displacement, looting, and more.

Earlier this month, the U.S. imposed sanctions on RSF leaders for alleged abuses, including the killing of the governor of West Darfur. However, Western powers, including the U.S., have also criticized al-Burhan. Despite the ongoing conflict, al-Burhan reaffirmed his commitment to transferring power to the people of Sudan, stating, “The armed forces would leave politics for once and for all.”

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