The commander of Sudan’s most powerful paramilitary says he is committed to the goal of creating a “single army”, a reference to calls to integrate his Rapid Support Forces into the military.
Gen Mohamed Dagalo said this would be “according to agreed-upon timelines as per the [December 4] framework agreement, and we are sincerely committed to being involved in security and military reform”.
However, he did not specifically mention the integration of the RSF into the armed forces, raising the possibility that he might be looking for a way that allows him to retain command of his feared unit.
“The Sudanese military is a historic institution and it will not be captured by any party,” Gen Dagalo said in address to the nation on Sunday.
“We are part of it and we will not spare any effort to defend it from anyone who abuses or belittles it.”
His remarks came two days after Sudan's military ruler Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan said he would only enforce the agreement if there was “clear and convincing language” about integrating the RSF and former rebels into the armed forces.
The December 4 deal was agreed on by the military and a major opposition coalition to resolve a months-long political crisis and restore Sudan’s democratic transition, which was upended when Gen Al Burhan seized power in a military coup in October 2021.
It provides an avenue for the military to quit politics and for a civilian prime minister to steer the country for 24 months until elections are held.
It also recognises the RSF as a legitimate force, stipulates its integration into the armed forces and calls for the reform of military and security and intelligence agencies.
The RSF, created by ousted dictator Omar Al Bashir in 2013, has its roots in the feared Janjaweed militia that fought on the government’s side against rebels in the western Darfur region in the 2000s.
The militia is widely believed to have committed widespread atrocities against civilians during that conflict.
It is also suspected of being behind the deadly clampdown on a sit-in protest camp outside the armed forces’ headquarters in central Khartoum in June 2019.
Gen Dagalo is now Gen Al Burhan’s deputy on the military-led Sovereign Council but there are persistent reports that the pair are at odds as they vie for power, the support of regional countries and a political future with immunity from prosecution after they step down.
The integration of the RSF into the armed forces has long been a demand of pro-democracy groups but Gen Dagalo is known to be reluctant to give up absolute control over a force that is heavily armed and combat seasoned.
Units of the RSF have been deployed throughout Khartoum and across much of Sudan in what many believe is a show of force.
In his remarks on Sunday, Gen Dagalo also warned against any meddling by Islamists who lost control of the country in 2019 with the overthrow of Al Bashir.
“We will not allow elements of the vanquished [Al Bashir] regime to drive a wedge between the Rapid Support Forces and the army,” he said.
However, he said the October 2021 coup was a mistake that served as a “gateway” for Al Bashir loyalists to make a political comeback.
“I realised from the first day that it will not deliver what we had hoped for,” said Gen Dagalo, who supported the 2021 power grab, joining Gen Al Burhan in justifying it as a necessary measure to spare the country from a civil war and stop civilian politicians from sowing divisions among Sudan’s many ethnic and religious communities.
Gen Dagalo left Khartoum for the UAE on Sunday night. His trip follows Gen Al Burhan's visit to the Emirates earlier in February.
The UAE — along with the US, the UK, Norway and Saudi Arabia — played a major role in mediating weeks of tortuous negotiations that resulted in the December agreement.
The negotiations also involved representatives of the UN, the African Union and the regional the International Fund for Agricultural Development group.
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Brief scoreline:
Crystal Palace 2
Milivojevic 76' (pen), Van Aanholt 88'
Huddersfield Town 0
The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience
by David Gilmour
Allen Lane
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Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
Copa del Rey
Semi-final, first leg
Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')
Second leg, February 27
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 10.4L/100km
Price: from Dh547,600
On sale: now
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
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What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Five personal finance podcasts from The National
To help you get started, tune into these Pocketful of Dirham episodes
·
Balance is essential to happiness, health and wealth
·
What is a portfolio stress test?
·
What are NFTs and why are auction houses interested?
·
How gamers are getting rich by earning cryptocurrencies
·
Should you buy or rent a home in the UAE?
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
