By John Ikani
Sudan’s Military Leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, broke his silence on Friday, affirming his commitment to a peaceful transition to civilian rule.
However, he did not offer assurance that the army would agree to the latest cease-fire deal proposed by Sudanese civilian coalitions and international officials to end the conflict between his troops and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by his main rival, Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan.
Instead, General al-Burhan vowed, “Your armed forces are advancing to defeat the rebels.”
The RSF’s cease-fire proposal was meant to provide a window of opportunity for people to mark the Eid holiday, evacuate their loved ones, and seek food and medical assistance.
But this did not happen as fighting continued in several Khartoum neighborhoods and other cities, with residents reporting intense shelling and gunfire in the streets.
The clashes, which erupted last week, have forced many Sudanese to flee their homes, seek medical assistance, or access basic supplies, such as food and water.
General al-Burhan, who staged a coup in late 2021 that ousted Sudan’s civilian prime minister, derailed the country’s transition to democratic rule in the past, which made many people question his commitment to civilian rule.
Since then, a fragile power-sharing agreement between the military and civilians has been put in place, and General al-Burhan was expected to hand over power to civilians.
However, his forces and those loyal to General Hamdan resumed violent clashes this month, putting the country’s future in disarray.
The situation is dire, with at least 413 people killed and 3,551 others injured since the conflict broke out.
At least 20 hospitals have closed their doors due to shelling or shortages of water, fuel, and medical supplies like oxygen and blood for transfusion, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Eight more facilities were at risk of closing due to exhaustion among medical workers.
The WHO also reported that the warring parties had attacked hospitals and clinics, and hijacked ambulances in Khartoum.
It remains unclear which of the two generals is in control of Sudan, as countries like the United States prepare to evacuate their citizens from the war-torn country.
General al-Burhan acknowledged the heavy toll the fighting has taken on the people and their property, saying, “We are confident that we will overcome this ordeal with training, wisdom, and strength, in a way that preserves the security and unity of the country and enables us to transition to civilian rule.”
However, the humanitarian crisis in Sudan is worsening by the day, with the United Nations World Food Program warning of its impact on school-age children and malnourished people, as the conflict hinders access to meals.
In Nyala, a city in South Darfur State, the WFP said its offices and warehouses had been looted, causing the loss of 4,400 tons of food.
On Thursday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged the rival parties to observe a three-day cease-fire, but the call and other similar agreements have been futile, as clashes have resumed.
