SUDAN’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has visited the military’s headquarters in the capital Khartoum in his first appearance there since government forces claimed to have broken a months-long siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Accompanied by top military officials on Sunday, al-Burhan praised the “resilience and sacrifices” of soldiers who defended the army’s General Command for 20 months, vowing to “eradicate” the RSF and pursue its fighters “in every corner of Sudan”.
He also hailed the continued operations by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) elsewhere in the country, including in Omdurman, Bahri, and el-Fasher, where fierce clashes have been reported in recent days.
“Our forces are in their best condition,” al-Burhan said at the headquarters that was recaptured last week after being encircled by RSF since the start of the war in April 2023.
The announcement on Friday by the SAF that it had successfully lifted the RSF blockade on Khartoum and took back control of parts of the city signalled a potential turning point in the nearly two-year war. The RSF denied the army claims as “propaganda” aimed at boosting morale.
Earlier this month, the army recaptured Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira state, which had been held by the RSF for more than a year. There are reports that military forces have carried out alleged ethnic killings after taking over the strategic city.
The RSF has been accused of committing various abuses – including an allegation by the United States that it has carried out genocide – during the war.
Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan, reporting from Khartoum, said al-Burhan’s comments on Sunday signalled that the general was not interested in diplomacy at this time.
“Al-Burhan made it clear he will not be holding negotiations with the RSF, that there will be no reconciliation, and that there will be fighting until the very last rebel is killed,” she said.
“It’s not the first time we’re hearing those words from the army chief, but regional partners and the international community have tried to pursue a diplomatic solution as well. General al-Burhan appears to opt for a military victory right now, especially since in the past few weeks the army has been able to regain control of more territory.”
