KHARTOUM — Sudan’s army chief, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, has firmly rejected any possibility of a ceasefire with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), declaring that military operations will continue until the group is entirely defeated. Speaking at a public rally in the Al-Sreiha area of Gezira State in central Sudan, Al-Burhan said there would be “no truce or peace with the rebel militia,” emphasizing that the conflict would not be resolved through negotiations or agreements.
Al-Burhan, who also chairs Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, described the war as a “battle of dignity and honor” and urged all Sudanese citizens capable of bearing arms to join the fight against the RSF. He insisted that the Sudanese people would never accept the RSF or its supporters, calling on the international community to help disarm the group in order to restore peace and stability.
His comments came shortly after the RSF announced its acceptance of a proposal by the International Quad Group—comprising the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt—to implement a humanitarian ceasefire. Leaked details suggest the proposed plan includes a three-month truce to allow aid access, followed by a nine-month political process aimed at securing a permanent settlement. Al-Burhan’s rejection, however, casts doubt on the viability of the initiative.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023, has plunged the country into one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, and millions have been displaced from their homes. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed, while severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel continue to worsen the suffering of civilians. The fighting has spread to multiple regions, including Gezira State, which had previously sheltered displaced people fleeing violence from the capital, Khartoum.
Despite repeated efforts by regional and international mediators, peace talks have stalled, and the conflict shows no immediate signs of ending. With both sides entrenched and Al-Burhan vowing to continue the military campaign, Sudan’s devastating war appears poised to continue well into its second year.
