MEDIA STATEMENT

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) expresses its sincere gratitude to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which is hosting the inaugural high-level summit on the Sudan peace process in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, chaired by Kenyan President William Ruto. We commend IGAD for its concern over the crisis in Sudan and appreciate its work to engage diverse international actors in resolving this conflict.

We extend our deepest thanks to the United Nations, the African Union, and the people and government of Ethiopia, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. We also convey our appreciation to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, the United States, and the United Kingdom for their support.

We have chosen to participate in this summit because we strongly believe that a peaceful resolution to this crisis must be found as quickly as possible. We are seeking an outcome to quickly and sustainably end this war and instigate a comprehensive political dialogue addressing the root causes of this crisis.

It is disheartening that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) declined to participate in this summit, despite being present in Addis Ababa. Their decision only serves to reinforce our claims that the SAF's decision-making apparatus has been compromised, with multiple factions vying for control. These internal divisions within the SAF further perpetuate the crisis and hinder the commendable efforts of our regional and international allies to end this war.

The SAF's refusal to attend the IGAD summit is reminiscent of the radical policies of the authoritarian former regime, which plunged our country into 30 years of darkness and isolation, subjected our people to terror and corruption, and resulted in systematic sanctions that adversely affected all aspects of life in Sudan.

It is evident that the SAF and its allied militias are determined to prolong this war. This is demonstrated not only by their boycott of the summit but also by their continued indiscriminate attacks on residential neighborhoods in Khartoum. The SAF and its supporters from the former regime perpetuate the cycle of war by disregarding civilian lives, recruiting and arming citizens, obstructing humanitarian aid to Darfur and Kordofan, fueling ethnic and tribal tensions, promoting hate speech, and involving the state in the war.

We have reviewed the recent statement by the Sudanese Foreign Ministry, which is now also under the control of the former regime. Its claim that a government delegation is participating in the summit is baseless and misleading. The invitation extended to the SAF delegation was a recognition of the fact that two parties are involved in this crisis. Unfortunately, the ministry continues to spread misinformation in an attempt to distort the local, regional, and global perception of this war by portraying it as a dispute between the RSF and Sudan. However, the people of Sudan are well aware of their diversionary tactics.

We assure the people of Sudan that the RSF is fully committed to achieving a sustainable and just solution to this crisis. We are determined to restore a civilian-led government that ensures our nation's democratic future and brings about a comprehensive and equitable peace for all Sudanese.