Observers believe that Al-Burhan’s statements about the continuation of the war and the closing of the door to any attempts at calming or negotiation give clear indications that this war and the events preceding it were not aimed at the citizen and the state, according to the declared slogans, but rather at power and interests, regardless of the state’s survival, the displacement of citizens, the destruction of the economy and infrastructure, and setting the country back decades.
Initially, Sudanese military and strategic expert, General Jalal Tower, states: “Regarding the recent statements about the continuation of the war against the rebellion, which came on the sidelines of the Interior Minister’s press conference, Al-Burhan indicated that the army’s movements are currently working to lift the siege on cities where battles are taking place, such as Al-Fashir and Nyala, and that the battle will not stop until the last member of the rebellion is eliminated. These statements are not new but have been repeated on many occasions.”
He added in his talk to “”: “General Al-Burhan has repeated the statement of continuing the war until the rebellion is eliminated on more than one occasion since the outbreak of the war. Therefore, I see that the recent statement is not new, although it confirms previous statements, which actually happened on the ground. The war did not stop, and operations continue in Darfur sometimes visibly and openly and other times invisibly.”
The military expert continued: “All the meetings and subsequent indicators return and refer to something very clear that separates the current circumstances from the political issue. Now there is a security initiative and no political initiative. We have seen the failure of the Quartet meeting called by Washington, which could have been considered the only attempt seeking a ceasefire.”
Tower explained that “the announcements and calls for a ceasefire occasionally issued by the United Nations or the Peace and Security Council of the African Union and others are nothing more than demands that have no effect or obligation on either side of the war in Sudan.”
He pointed out that “the open field now on the Sudanese scene is the continuation of military operations, and there is no other option on the table. This is not exaggerated and does not spread despair and frustration or close the door of hope for ending the war and achieving peace. Rather, we present the truth with full transparency and realism. The reality now indicates the advancement of the armed forces and their serious work to achieve security and stability in all areas, and the matter ends on this basis. After that, the crisis ends, and we move to the political issue.”
On his part, Dr. Adel Abdel Baki, head of Sudanese civil society organizations, says: “Since the beginning of the war, Al-Burhan and the Islamic movement have been working and talking about the continuity of the war amid complex humanitarian and security conditions lived by more than 30 million Sudanese.”
He added in his talk to “”: “Al-Burhan not only rejected peace, but in his latest statement, he threatens the African Union, the Security Council, and regional countries. Since September 24, 2024, Al-Burhan and the army have not engaged in direct military battles with the Rapid Support Forces but use the movements and militias allied with him. He now does not have control over the militias that support him, and we have seen what happened recently from disagreements between those movements and militias over the division of power in Idris’s government.”
Abdel Baki continued: “Khartoum is now under the control of the Al-Baraa battalions and the Islamic movement. Likewise, Al-Jazeera state is under the control of the Sudan Shield, East Sudan is under the Liberation of the East movement, while Darfur and Kordofan are under the control of the parallel (Foundation) government. Where is it? Therefore, it is better to review the current situation before the situations reach a point of no return.”
The head of the civil society organizations cluster pointed out that “since Al-Burhan seized power, he has led the country to unprecedented security, political, and economic deterioration, causing it throughout the country’s regions. In addition, he established and supported armed tribal militias outside the framework of the official military institution, which contributed to the disintegration of the national army’s unity and destabilized the country’s stability.”
Abdel Baki explained that “the current war that Sudan is experiencing is a natural result of what happened during the previous years that were established for it, leading to a major humanitarian catastrophe, the displacement of millions, and the fall of tens of thousands of innocent victims without any justification other than holding onto power. In addition, those moves led to the emergence of two governments recently within one state, deepening political and administrative division, weakening legitimate state institutions, and spreading a policy of starvation and forced displacement and child recruitment in Kordofan, Darfur, Al-Jazeera, and White Nile.”
In turn, Fatima Laqawa, Sudanese writer and political analyst, says that “the recent statements issued by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, which reflect the continuation of the Port Sudan group in adopting a method that deepens the tragedy of the homeland and does not open any horizon for a comprehensive political solution.”
She added in her talk to “”: “At a time when the Sudanese citizen groans under the weight of hunger, displacement, and the collapse of services, it was first to hear a speech that opens the doors of hope and puts an end to the bloodshed.”
She stressed that “the war must be stopped immediately, and a return to a peaceful civil path that saves what is left of this exhausted nation and restores dignity to a great people who can no longer bear more disappointments. It is time to use the stick against the Port Sudan gang that no longer cares except for returning to the seat of power over the skulls of the people.”
The President of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, confirmed last Wednesday that “Khartoum witnessed major battles,” noting that “the Rapid Support Forces did not leave it easily.”
Al-Burhan said in a speech that “the army presented tens of thousands of martyrs in order to restore Khartoum,” confirming that “providing security services to citizens in Khartoum is of utmost necessity, and we seek to clear it of the manifestations of chaos and the spread of weapons.”
He added that “the battle in Al-Fashir and Kordofan continues until the rebellion is expelled,” continuing: “Our battle against the Rapid Support Militia continues until the displaced are returned to their homes.”
Al-Burhan confirmed that “the police are an essential partner in building the state and preserving its resources,” noting that he has directed the regulation of carrying weapons in Khartoum.
The war broke out on April 15, 2023, between the army led by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti) in various parts of Sudan, affecting health services and the living conditions of Sudanese, especially in exacerbating the crisis of internal and external displacement.
Arab, African, and international parties mediated to ceasefire, but these mediations did not succeed in reaching a permanent halt to the fighting.
