Sudan military ruler promises decisive victory, rules out deal with 'traitors'

(Reuters) – Sudan’s military ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan addressed soldiers at the Flamingo Base in Port Sudan on the Red Sea, dismissing the possibility of talks to end the ongoing war and accusing the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of being “traitors”. The conflict between the army and the RSF, which began in April, has led to millions of people being displaced and a worsening humanitarian crisis. Despite several unsuccessful attempts at negotiation, the fighting continues.

Burhan declared, “We do not make deals with traitors, we do not make deals with anyone who has betrayed the Sudanese people.” His speech came after the RSF head expressed readiness for talks and a long-term ceasefire. Burhan’s visit to Port Sudan was his first public appearance outside of Khartoum since the start of the war.

Both forces had previously shared power after toppling former president Omar al-Bashir in 2019. They blame each other for initiating the war, which erupted amid plans to integrate their troops into a unified force as part of Sudan’s transition to democracy.

Burhan is currently touring army-controlled regions and is expected to visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt, leading to speculation that a potential deal is in the works. He assured the soldiers, “We are dedicating all our time to this war … to ending this rebellion,” while asserting confidence in a swift and decisive victory, echoing previous statements made by the military leadership.

He also claimed that his troops have not received any foreign assistance and attributed his ability to leave the capital to a military operation involving the air force and navy. However, he acknowledged that two soldiers had died during the operation.

In recent weeks, the army has successfully repelled a strong attack by the RSF on the Armoured Corps base in southern Khartoum, which is one of their few remaining strongholds in the capital, alongside the army headquarters where Burhan is based. The siege has resulted in civilian casualties and a loss of essential services such as electricity and water, making it difficult for locals to flee, according to activists.

The two sides have also fiercely contested control over Nyala in South Darfur state, leading to numerous civilian casualties. Aid agencies have reported that the city is currently cut off from assistance and utilities.

Reporting by Nafisa Eltahir in Cairo and Khalid Abdelaziz in Dubai; Editing by Conor Humphries