Sudan’s army chief and head of the Transitional Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, has pledged to achieve a decisive victory over the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), dismissing any prospects of negotiation as the military gains ground.
In a televised address on Saturday, Al-Burhan declared, “I renew the armed forces’ pledge to the people that there will be no retreat from defeating and crushing the militia. There will be no negotiation or compromise with the RSF.”
The army’s recent offensives have led to significant strategic gains. On March 21, the military announced it had seized the presidential palace and key government buildings in central Khartoum from the RSF. Five days later, the army claimed control of Khartoum International Airport, which had been under RSF control since April 2023.
Military officials reported this week that the army now controls all of Khartoum locality, one of the three administrative divisions in the capital region, marking a substantial shift in control.
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF began nearly two years ago, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and displacing over 15 million people, according to United Nations reports. The fighting has pushed Sudan to the brink of famine, with the collapsing healthcare system making casualty figures difficult to verify.
Efforts by international mediators to broker a ceasefire have so far failed, with both sides accused of violating human rights and obstructing humanitarian aid. The ongoing conflict continues to raise concerns about regional stability and the humanitarian crisis within Sudan.
As the military consolidates its hold on key areas, the prospect of a negotiated peace appears increasingly distant, leaving the people of Sudan facing an uncertain future amid escalating violence.
