War Continues, Sudan’s Military Chief won’t Negotiate with RSF, Rival Force

Sudan’s army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has stated his refusal to engage in any peace talk with RSF, the rival force. He made this declaration public on January 5, 2024.

In the wake of Omar al-Bashir’s regime collapse in 2019, Sudan embarked on a precarious journey towards democracy. al-Bashir’s 30 difficult years of dictatorship had brought to light the importance of a power-sharing deal between civilians and the military. In late 2021, a military coup that involved Sudan’s key military factions cast a shadow over the hopes of a democratic transition.

At the heart of this tale are the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who assumed authority and largely sidelined the civil society from national affairs. As 2023 unfolded, the rift between these two factions deepened, culminating in violent confrontations in Khartoum by mid-April. The clash was essentially a struggle for dominance and resources between the SAF, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF under Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo. The power tussle has gone ahead to escalate into a war between both factions.

The ongoing war, now stretching over nine months, has wreaked havoc in Sudan, claiming over 12,000 lives. The U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs highlighted the grim situation, stating that nearly 25 million Sudanese would require aid in 2024. However, intensifying hostilities are increasingly placing civilians out of reach of necessary assistance. Yet, no resolution is in sight.

Amidst the rising tension in Sudan, the Commander-in-chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) refuses to engage in peace talks with Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the rival force. The army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, made his position known to the public on January 5, 2024. According to him, his refusal is rooted in allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the RSF across Sudan, particularly in West Darfur. Addressing soldiers in northeastern Sudan, al-Burhan stated that because of these actions, any reconciliation with the RSF is impossible. Conversely, though, the U.S. State Department has in the past stated that both the RSF and the Sudanese military have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity during the nine-month conflict.

General al-Burhan’s announcement came unexpectedly, especially because last month, the warring generals agreed to meet and discuss a potential ceasefire. This arrangement was facilitated by the East African regional bloc IGAD.

RSF commander Hamdan Daglo, on his end, has been touring East Africa, the latest stop on Friday being Kigali, Rwanda. During his travels, he professed a commitment to ending hostilities in Sudan, blaming the SAF for prolonging the conflict. According to him, he is willing to concede to peace arrangements as the ongoing conflict has left Sudan devastated.

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