Sudan’s military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has said no armed faction will be allowed to gain political or military influence in the country once the war ends.
Speaking to a delegation of journalists attending a media forum in Khartoum on Thursday, Gen. Burhan said the government is committed to implementing the outcomes of a national dialogue that he said should serve the interests of the Sudanese people.
He said the national dialogue would involve political and civilian forces but would exclude armed groups.
“Those participating in the dialogue are seeking to build the Sudanese state on the foundations of justice and equality,” he said.
Burhan also rejected the possibility of a proposed UN Security Council arms embargo affecting the Sudanese army, saying he doesn’t expect such a measure to pass.
He said any such decision would not affect the army’s position on the battlefield.
Burhan reiterated that armed factions would not be allowed to secure political gains through the use of force.
“There will be no militia within the country when the war ends,” he said.
October 2021 takeover
Gen. Burhan also defended the military’s seizure of power in October 2021, saying it was not a coup but a “correction” of the course of Sudan’s revolution.
The military takeover ended the civilian-military power-sharing arrangement established after the overthrow of longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
Gen. Burhan accused the first government led by Prime Minister Dr. Abdalla Hamdok of failing to build state institutions and of seeking to strengthen political parties at the expense of state institutions.
He said Dr. Hamdok had agreed to the dissolution of his government and the formation of a new administration that could, in his view, rebuild the state and move the country forward.
Gen. Burhan also alleged that a group including former civilian ministers Mariam al-Sadiq al-Mahdi and Khalid Omer Youssef, as well as politician Babiker Faisal, had sought to persuade the military leadership to accept an alternative agreement to the 2022 framework agreement.
He claimed the proposal was intended to give its supporters control of the executive branch and allow them to remain in power for 10 years.
Gen. Burhan said he rejected the proposal.
War with RSF
Discussing the early stages of the war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Burhan said the first months of fighting had been particularly difficult for the military.
He said several military positions had fallen to the RSF, which he described as a “terrorist militia”, while the army’s Armoured Corps was able to hold its position.
He said the army was forced to carry out airdrops of food and medicine to troops stationed inside the army’s General Command in central Khartoum.
Burhan again ruled out any future political role for the RSF, citing alleged abuses and atrocities committed during the conflict.
He also reiterated the army’s position on the Jeddah peace process, saying it remains committed to its position on the agreement.
The Jeddah talks, mediated by Saudi Arabia and the United States, produced commitments by the army and RSF to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access, although repeated ceasefires have failed to end the war.
Call for US officials to visit Sudan
Burhan said Sudan had invited US officials to visit the country and assess the situation on the ground, but that the invitation had not received a response.
He renewed the invitation, saying a visit would allow US officials to see what he described as the realities of the conflict for themselves.
He also praised what he described as the sacrifices made by the Sudanese people during the war, saying they should be documented for future generations.
Gen. Burhan thanked Sudan’s regional and international allies for supporting the country during the conflict, which began in April 2023 after fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions and triggered famine and a major humanitarian crisis.
and then