The head of Sudan’s army, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue with rebel forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, in an effort to bring an end to the ongoing internal conflict in the country. This announcement comes as the United Nations reports a death toll of over 5,000 and more than five million people displaced since the conflict erupted in April.
Gen Burhan, who took power in a coup in 2021, made this statement shortly after addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The general is currently on a global diplomatic tour to garner international support and secure legitimacy for his leadership, despite his failure to transfer power to civilian authorities.
While the UN and humanitarian organizations have accused Gen Burhan’s forces of targeting civilians through indiscriminate air strikes on residential areas, he vehemently denies these claims. Despite the ongoing violence in the capital city of Khartoum forcing the army to relocate its headquarters to Port Sudan, Gen Burhan remains confident in achieving victory.
The proposed peace talks between Gen Burhan and Gen Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, hinge on their commitment to protecting civilians, as agreed upon during talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, earlier in May. Both generals have previously discussed ceasefires, but these efforts have failed to result in a reduction in hostilities.
Furthermore, Gen Burhan has dismissed comparisons of Sudan becoming a failed state like Somalia or a divided country like Libya. He asserts that Sudan will remain united and intact, with the Sudanese people rallying behind the cause of ending the mutiny peacefully or through combat.
The United Nations has declared that neither side of the conflict appears close to achieving a decisive military victory. Nonetheless, Gen Burhan remains unwavering in his confidence of defeating the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The ongoing conflict has reignited tribal tensions, leading to intense clashes in Darfur, particularly involving RSF and allied militias. These groups have been accused of carrying out mass killings, rape, and torture.
Despite the differing accounts of civilian casualties, with Gen Burhan denying deliberate targeting, Volker Perthes, the former UN special representative to Sudan, has highlighted the occurrence of indiscriminate aerial bombings conducted by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) during an address to the Security Council.
As Sudan continues to grapple with internal turmoil, the possibility of peace talks offers a glimmer of hope for an end to the violence and a return to stability.
BBC/Jide Johnson.
