Lieutenant General Yasser al-Atta (Arabic: ياسر العطا, romanized: Yāsir al-ʻAṭā, c. 1962) is the Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan Armed Forces[1] and a member of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council since 21 August 2019.[2] He served as Vice Chairman of the Transitional Military Council in 2019, Commander of the Border Guard Forces, and Military Attaché in Djibouti.[3] His uncle was Major Hashim al-Atta, who led and was executed for the 1971 coup d'état.[4][5][citation needed]
Yasser al-Atta | |
|---|---|
ياسر العطا | |
| Member of the Transitional Sovereignty Council | |
| Assumed office 20 August 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Abdalla Hamdok (21 August 2019–25 October 2021) Abdalla Hamdok (21 November 2021–2 January 2022) Osman Hussein Acting (from 19 January 2022) |
| Leader | Abdel Fattah al-Burhan |
| Member of the Transitional Military Council | |
| In office 11 April 2019 – 20 August 2019 | |
| Leader | Abdel Fattah al-Burhan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1962 (age 61–62) Bait al-Mal, Omdurman, Republic of Sudan |
| Parent | Hashem al-Atta (uncle) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Sudanese Armed Forces |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Battles/wars | War in Sudan |
2023 war in Sudan
editIn May, al-Atta stated that the army controlled most of the country, except for a few small areas, while accusing media linked to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of spreading misinformation. He thanked Saudi Arabia and the United States for their mediation efforts but emphasized the army's goal of expelling the RSF from Khartoum. Al-Atta dismissed the possibility of the conflict escalating into a civil war, asserting that the army represented all of Sudan. Additionally, he raised concerns about the presence of the Wagner Group in the conflict and highlighted issues related to gold extraction in Sudan.[6]
In July, al-Atta accused Kenyan President William Ruto of supporting the RSF, undermining his role in the East African peacekeeping mission. Sudan refuses to cooperate with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development's Quartet Group, led by Ruto, until he is replaced. Al-Atta challenged Ruto to face the Sudanese army. Kenyan officials condemn these remarks.[1] In August, al-Atta stated that around 80% of the RSF have been incapacitated, continuing that the RSF continues to recruit inexperienced mercenaries, but the army repelled 6,000 new RSF fighters recently.[7]
In November 2023, al-Atta stated that the UАЕ had provided unidentified supplies to the RSF through Uganda, the Central African Republic (CAR), and Chad.[8] Moreover, In January 2024, during a tour in Omdurman, he announced his intention to file a complaint with regional institutions and escalate it to the UN Security Council against the UАЕ’s involvement in the Sudanese conflict.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b "Tension Between Sudan, Kenya's Ruto Impedes IGAD Mediation Effort in Sudan". VOA. 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
- ^ Hendawi, Hamza (2019-08-23). "Who's who in Sudan's new ruling council". The National. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
- ^ "تعرٌف على ... ياسر عبدالرحمن حسن العطا | مشاهير # اخر تحديث اليوم 2023-09-29". arbyy.com. Archived from the original on 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
- ^ "Hashem al-Atta". al-Rakoba (in Arabic).
- ^ "Execute Leaders of Sudan Coup". Southeast Missourian. Cairo. 23 July 1971.
- ^ "Lieutenant General Yasser Al-Atta: Wagner is Fighting in Sudan". english.aawsat.com. 2023-05-21. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
- ^ "Sudan's Lt. Gen. Yasser Al-Atta: RSF Recruits Mercenaries". english.aawsat.com. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
- ^ Eltahir, Nafisa (2023-11-28). "Sudanese general accuses UАЕ of supplying paramilitary RSF". Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ "Sudan escalates diplomatic tensions with UАЕ, plans to file complaint to regional, International institutions". Sudan Tribune. 2024-01-21. Retrieved 2024-01-30.