Sudan’s military leader, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, announced a major reshuffle of senior military officers Monday, consolidating his control over the army as fighting continues with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the west.
The appointments, made a day after several long-serving officers retired, include changes to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the inspector general and the head of the air force.
Al-Burhan retained Gen. Mohamed Osman al-Hussein as chairman of the Joint Chiefs, a position he has held since 2019. The army chief also replaced several deputy chiefs of staff under al-Hussein and appointed new commanders across key branches.
The changes include new deputies for logistics, training, administration and operations, as well as a new head of military intelligence.
Al-Burhan appointed Maj. Gen. Mutasim Abbas al-Tom Ahmed as inspector general, filling a post left vacant after his predecessor was captured by the RSF in 2023.
Former air force chief Lt. Gen. al-Tahir Mohamed al-Awad al-Amin was promoted to general and retired, with new commanders installed to lead the air force and air defense forces.
Al-Amin had previously been sanctioned by the European Union over alleged responsibility for “indiscriminate aerial bombardment of densely populated residential areas” during the conflict.
Gen. Nasr Eldeen Abdel Fattah, commander of the armored corps, and Gen. Nader Al Mansouri, commander of the Presidential Guards, were also retired.
On Sunday, a separate decree issued by the army chief placed all armed groups fighting alongside the army — including former Darfur rebels, Islamist brigades, tribal militias and civilian volunteers — under his direct command.
Analysts suggest al-Burhan’s move to bring allied militias under army command may be linked to his recent meeting in Switzerland with U.S. Africa adviser Massad Boulos.
Observers noted that several of the retiring generals were believed to have ties to Islamist groups, whose growing influence has raised concerns among Sudan’s regional and international partners.
The civil war in Sudan erupted in April 2023 when the army and the RSF clashed over plans to integrate their forces.
The RSF initially captured parts of central Sudan, including the capital, Khartoum, but the army has gradually regained territory and pushed the paramilitary westward, intensifying fighting in the region.