SUDAN’s leader has warned the United Nations his country’s war could spill over into neighbouring African nations.
In a speech, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan also urged the international community to designate his opponents, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a terrorist group.
Meanwhile, RSF leader Hamdan Dagalo said he was prepared for a ceasefire.
Since April, Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war that has killed thousands of people.
Back in 2021, the two generals staged a coup, but in recent months a power struggle between them has led to their men taking up arms against each other.
Speaking to the UN on Thursday, Gen Burhan said his party was open to peace talks, and wanted to “put an end to this war and to alleviate the suffering of our people”, but said the RSF refused.
However, in a rare video message to the UN, his opponent, Gen Dagalo – also known as Hemedti – said he was ready to engage in talks.
Sudan’s civil war erupted in April when members of the RSF were deployed around the country in a move the army, led by Gen Burhan, saw as a threat.
It is disputed who fired the first shot but the fighting swiftly escalated in different parts of the country. The fighting has killed at least 7,500 people according to NGO Acled and displaced millions.
Gen Burhan, who had been the de-facto leader of Sudan following a coup in 2021, has been travelling around the world seeking to gain international support.
Addressing the UN he also alluded to the RSF’s ties to Wagner, a Russian mercenary group who are operating across Africa in The Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, Mozambique and Mali.
