Sudan’s military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has shattered hopes for peace talks to end the prolonged conflict, branding the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as “traitors.” Speaking passionately before soldiers, he pledged a definitive victory after months of turmoil. The nation has witnessed mass displacement and an escalating humanitarian crisis since the inception of the army-RSF conflict in April. Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire have repeatedly faltered.
“We refuse to negotiate with traitors, with those who have betrayed our people,” proclaimed Burhan to a crowd of enthusiastic soldiers at Port Sudan’s Flamingo Base along the Red Sea coast. This announcement followed the RSF’s leader expressing willingness to discuss a long-term ceasefire, and Burhan’s own recent emergence from Khartoum.
Once allies in the 2019 ousting of President Omar al-Bashir, the army and RSF now blame each other for initiating the war. Their rivalry ignited as plans to merge their forces into a unified entity coincided with Sudan’s transition toward democracy. Burhan, concurrently the army chief and military ruler, embarked on a tour of army-controlled bases, fueling speculation of an impending deal.
He stated firmly, “Our focus is entirely on this war… on ending this insurgency.” Burhan’s assertion of a swift, decisive triumph echoed previous military declarations. He asserted the RSF’s exhaustion, suggesting that their defeat was close at hand.
Denying foreign support, Burhan attributed his relocation from the capital to a coordinated military operation involving air and naval units, though the operation claimed two soldiers’ lives. Recent weeks have witnessed the army repelling a fierce RSF assault on the Armoured Corps base in southern Khartoum, one of the few remaining strongholds.
Trapped in the crossfire, civilians have suffered casualties and endured the loss of basic amenities. Nyala, a city in South Darfur state, has become a battleground, leaving countless civilians injured and the city isolated from aid and utilities.
While Port Sudan initially provided a refuge from the conflict, it now grapples with a collapsing healthcare system due to electricity shortages, limited resources, and unpaid medical staff. This crisis is a consequence of the Sudanese government’s financial strain, stemming from confrontations between the army and RSF.
The unrest, which commenced in April, underscores a deepening divide between the army and RSF, who once united to oust al-Bashir. The rift has its origins in disagreements over the transition to civilian rule.
As the conflict persists, parallels are drawn to the Nigerian Civil War of 1967-1970. The cycle of warfare shows no sign of abating unless one of the leaders embraces reason. Sudan stands at a critical juncture, condemned to a grim fate until a resolution emerges from the ashes of strife.
