KHARTOUM, May 16 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese army is making significant progress in reclaiming territory in western Sudan, particularly in Kordofan and Darfur, said Minister of Information Khalid Ali Aleisir, emphasizing that the war will continue until the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) either surrender or are fully eliminated.
In a recent interview with Xinhua, Aleisir, also the government spokesperson, stressed the government's commitment to the roadmap it previously submitted to the UN, which lays out a national mechanism for resolving the conflict.
"If the militia (RSF) decides to lay down arms, it will fulfill the terms of the Jeddah Declaration. If not, the war will continue until the last militiaman is defeated," he said.
On Feb. 9, the Sudanese government announced a political roadmap outlining plans to launch a comprehensive national dialogue, draft a new constitutional document, implement disarmament, and evacuate civilian sites as prerequisites for negotiations with the RSF. The roadmap also called for lifting the siege on El Fasher and withdrawing from the Kordofan and Darfur regions.
The minister dismissed RSF plans to establish a parallel government in territories under its control. "It will have no real existence," he said.
On Feb. 22, the RSF signed a founding charter with various political and armed groups, setting the groundwork for a parallel government in Sudan. On April 15, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo announced that such a government had been formed, though details remain unclear.
Despite the war, Aleisir said the Sudanese government is functioning.
"As a government responsible for the Sudanese people, we continue to perform our duties," he said, noting that key sectors like the economy, politics, and culture continue to operate.
In the information sector, official media outlets continue to carry out their duties despite the systematic destruction by the RSF, and the government remains open to international press, granting them considerable freedom to operate despite the ongoing war, the minister added.
Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF since mid-April 2023, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people both inside and outside the country. ■
