Sudanese military leadership has accused South Sudanese nationals of heavily contributing to the ranks of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), alleging mercenary involvement over the past two years.
Lieutenant General Yasir Al-Atta, a senior official in the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), claimed that South Sudanese mercenaries make up 65% of the RSF. Addressing soldiers in Ed Damazin, he criticized the lack of action by South Sudanese authorities despite repeated notifications about the issue.
Al-Atta highlighted the role of specific South Sudanese opposition figures, naming Stephen Buoy, while lamenting the South Sudanese government’s failure to address these allegations. He also revealed the presence of fighters from Libya, Chad, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic, Colombia, and Syria within the RSF. Additionally, remnants of the Wagner Group were mentioned as part of the force, alongside the original Janjaweed leaders, who he claimed constitute only a small fraction of the RSF.
The general expressed optimism about South Sudanese President Salva Kiir’s leadership and urged South Sudan’s media and security sectors to discourage involvement of their nationals in the ongoing Sudan conflict.
Amidst escalating tensions, recent killings of South Sudanese nationals in Wad Madani, a city recaptured by SAF, have drawn widespread condemnation. Social media videos showing the victims sparked protests in Juba and other South Sudanese cities. These incidents were reportedly linked to SAF’s purge of suspected RSF collaborators.
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir denounced the killings, describing them as acts of terror and calling for a thorough investigation to ensure accountability. He urged South Sudanese citizens to refrain from retaliation and emphasized the need for transparency in investigations, involving international human rights organizations.
The African Union Commission (AUC) also condemned the violence and called for an immediate inquiry into the killings. The AUC reiterated its call for peaceful resolutions to Sudan’s ongoing conflict, urging all parties to collaborate in ending the violence.
Al-Atta, while acknowledging the suffering of Sudanese civilians, accused foreign powers of supporting the RSF, appearing to allude to certain Gulf nations. He affirmed SAF’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and taking legal action against all mercenary forces involved.