General Abdel Fattah's deputy on regional tour to counter rival Dagalo's advances

Sudan's Vice-President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Malik Agar, is bolstering relationships with neighbouring countries in a move seen as a "pushback" against Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Mohammed "Hemedti" Hamdan Dagalo's growing influence in the region.

Malik has visited countries whose role could be critical for junta leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's future as conflict with the Rapid Support Forces drags on which is now in its 10th month.

He has made visits to Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan since February 12.

On Monday, Malik and his delegation met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali, discussing a comprehensive overview of the humanitarian crisis resulting from the ongoing conflict.

Malik also levelled accusations against the rival RSF, alleging "crimes against humanity" both before and during the war.

General Abdel Fattah's deputy condemned a multitude of violations, including murder, sexual violence, ethnic cleansing, and forced displacement, as a stark breach of national and international laws.

IGAD withdrawal

He criticised the regional bloc, IGAD, for failing to "respect" Sudan's sovereignty and for not making sufficient efforts to address the country's complex issues.

Sudan withdrew from IGAD in January.

President Kagame received Malik Agar, Vice President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of Sudan and his delegation on February 26, 2024. (Photo: Presidency Rwanda)

The Foreign Affairs Ministry released a statement indicating that General Abdel Fattah had sent a letter to Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh, the current IGAD chairperson, informing him of Sudan's government's decision to suspend its membership.

The decision followed IGAD's invitation to Dagalo to attend the meeting in Uganda where he rubbed shoulders with regional leaders.

While Malik expressed the military junta's willingness to engage in political processes, the ongoing bitter fighting has resulted in the displacement of nearly eight million people.

In Uganda with Museveni, the VP accused external players of financing RSF militia to kill, rape, and conduct ethnic cleansing.

He accused the RSF of branding the war as one aimed at achieving democracy and sometimes as a war against the Muslim Brotherhood.

"They are just slogans to cover and political propaganda, and a justification for the violations committed by the militia, which are a creation of the Bashir regime. The government of Sudan is willing to end the war and seeks to do so," the Vice President told Museveni.

He also met the South Sudanese leader Salva Kiir, who triples as EAC chairman and IGAD deputy chairperson on February 12.

In Juba, Malik repeated what he told Kagame in Kigali about the progress made by the Sudanese military as well as regional and international peace initiatives.

Despite this regional tour, it has failed to garner much attention, notably from the media, in contrast to the lavish reception received by RSF commander Hamdan Dagalo.