Sudan Paramilitary Leader Orders 'No Sleep' to Counter Army Offensive in Kordofán

Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has issued a stark command to his fighters: "no sleep" and a relentless battle under the slogan "to be or not to be." This directive aims to counter the Sudanese regular army's offensive in the strategically vital Kordofán region, where government forces have recently regained control of several areas.

In his first public address in months, broadcast via RSF channels, Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, urged his combatants to avoid photographing battles and to act against what he termed the "fifth column" – individuals secretly aiding the enemy. He asserted his capability to motivate his forces and implement plans to "change the game" in Kordofán, a central-south region crucial for connecting Khartoum with Darfur.

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From today there will be no sleep (...); to be or not to be.

Dagalo's call to arms followed a meeting of the RSF-aligned Security and Defense Council. This comes as the Sudanese Forces, an alliance of the army and allied armed groups, announced the recapture of three towns and the strategic city of Bara, the second-largest in North Kordofán. The army claims to have inflicted "heavy human and material losses" on the RSF.

Bara holds significant strategic importance as a link between Omdurman, Khartoum's neighbor, and Al Obeid, which has been under RSF siege for over 18 months. The RSF had controlled Bara since late October, a period marked by widespread reports of abuses against civilians, including extrajudicial killings, looting, and abductions, which displaced thousands. The United Nations has warned of a looming humanitarian crisis in Al Obeid if the RSF tightens its grip on the city, with humanitarian organizations reporting extreme hunger, water shortages, and severe difficulties in delivering aid.

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From today my hand is in yours (...); forward, forward. Everything must be prepared. There will be no turning back or going back.