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Sudan's military chief rules out talks, vows to recapture all RSF-held territory

Al-Burhan says 'military option' will continue as civilian deaths mount in West Kordofan

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sudan's army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has rejected negotiations to end three and a half years of war, promising to seize 'every inch' of territory held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Speaking on Tuesday in Village 5, Merowe, al-Burhan said the military option would continue until the RSF was removed from Sudan, according to the Sudan News Agency.

The Sudanese army and the RSF have been fighting since April 2023 after disagreements over plans to integrate the paramilitary force into the national army. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced around 13 million, according to UN and international estimates.

Al-Burhan's pledge came as 10 civilians were killed and several others wounded in an RSF attack on Abu Ajal village in West Kordofan state, according to a local charity group, the Dar Hamar Emergency Committee. The RSF has been massing in West Kordofan as the army advances towards the cities of En Nahud and Al Khuway after recent gains in neighboring North Kordofan.

In Blue Nile state, more than 5,500 people were displaced from villages over three days amid deteriorating security, the International Organization for Migration reported on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, US senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, Massad Boulos, said that Sudanese parties must take the lead in talks to end the war. In a post on X, Boulos said peace could be achieved 'through an inclusive Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led national dialogue, transition toward a civilian-led government.' The US State Department said last month that neither the Sudanese Armed Forces, the RSF, nor their leaders represent 'legitimate, constitutional governance for Sudan.'

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The war has caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with millions displaced and widespread famine reported.
  • Al-Burhan's rejection of talks signals an extended conflict, deepening regional instability in the Horn of Africa.
  • Civilian casualties and displacement continue to rise as fighting spreads to new areas like Blue Nile state.

Background

Sudan's civil war erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti). The two groups had previously been allies in the 2019 overthrow of Omar al-Bashir but fell out over the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army. The conflict has devastated the country, destroying infrastructure and prompting mass displacement.

Key Perspectives

[Sudanese Armed Forces]: Al-Burhan insists on a military solution, rejecting negotiations until the RSF is eliminated from Sudan. [Rapid Support Forces]: The RSF continues to hold swaths of territory, including parts of Darfur and Kordofan, and has been accused of attacks on civilians. [US Administration]: Washington calls for an inclusive, Sudanese-led dialogue and has dismissed both warring parties as illegitimate, pressing for a civilian-led transition.

What to Watch

  • The army's progress in West Kordofan and whether it can retake the cities of En Nahud and Al Khuway.
  • Further RSF reprisals against civilians, which could increase international pressure for sanctions.
  • Any new diplomatic initiative that might bring the parties to the table despite al-Burhan's current stance.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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