KHARTOUM – Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has vowed that the military will avenge the people of al-Fashir following intense fighting in the city.
In a televised address late Monday night, General al-Burhan said that the army’s recent withdrawal from al-Fashir was a strategic and planned decision, not a defeat. He explained that the troops had been redeployed to secure and safer positions as part of a broader military evaluation and reorganization.
“The withdrawal was conducted according to a carefully prepared military assessment. Our forces have not been defeated — they are repositioning to respond effectively,”
al-Burhan said.
The army chief emphasized that the Sudanese military retains the capability to change the situation on the ground and reclaim lost territories. He expressed optimism that victory is near, citing the strong unity and unwavering support of the Sudanese people for their armed forces.
“The Sudanese people stand firmly with their army. This unity and determination are what will lead us to victory,”
he added.
Al-Burhan accused foreign-backed militias of attacking Sudan, saying the conflict aims to break the will of the nation — but vowed that the Sudanese military would never surrender. He promised accountability for those responsible for the ongoing violence and assured the public that Sudan would eventually recover through the unity and strength of its people.
The comments came just a day after the Sudanese army withdrew from a key military base in al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, where the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been fighting for the past two years.
Military sources confirmed that during the fierce clashes, the commander of the army brigade stationed in al-Fashir and the army spokesperson at the base were both killed.
Meanwhile, the RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), reportedly made significant advances in the fighting over the past two days. Sources close to the group claimed that the RSF had captured new military equipment and drone aircraft supplied by the United Arab Emirates, bolstering their battlefield advantage.
The ongoing conflict between Sudan’s army and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023, has devastated the country, killing thousands and displacing millions. The battle for al-Fashir — the last major city in Darfur still under army control — is seen as a critical turning point in the war.
