Sudan’s army leader vows to defeat Rapid Support Forces

Kassala, Sudan – January 30, 2024 – Sudanese Army Commander-in-Chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan has reaffirmed the military’s determination to crush the ongoing ”rebellion” by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), declaring that negotiations are unnecessary and the focus should be on military action.

During a visit to Kassala State, Al-Burhan addressed troops at the 11th Infantry Division headquarters and the 44th Brigade in New Halfa, emphasizing the army’s unwavering commitment to defeating the RSF with the unwavering support of the Sudanese people.

“We are not interested in wasting time with talks. We must move forward and continue our fight against this rebellion,” Al-Burhan declared.

It was unclear if al-Burhan intended to send an implicit denial of controversial press reports about secret talks in Manama, Bahrain, involving the Army Deputy Commander-in-Chief Shams Edine Kabbashi and RSF Second Commander Abdel Rahim Daglo.

Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Army Yasir Al-Atta echoed Al-Burhan’s sentiments, stating that the army is preparing to retake Al-Jazira State and its capital, Wad Madani, which the RSF seized in December.

In a further sign of the army’s offensive, Malik Agar, Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council, ordered the 4th Infantry Division in Damazin, the capital of the Blue Nile Region, to advance towards Wad Madani to secure the region’s defence.

Al-Burhan expressed gratitude for the Sudanese people’s solidarity with the army, emphasizing their united front in “cleansing the country and defeating this rebellion.”

Meanwhile, armed movements supportive of the army from the Darfur region have begun assembling their forces in Gedaref State, adjacent to Al-Jazira State.

On January 19, Mustafa Tambour, leader of a faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement, established a camp in Gedaref State for training and assembling his forces. Two days ago, forces from the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Minni Arko Minawi, arrived in Gedaref for military training, marking their alliance with the army.

With the acquisition of new weapons, the Sudanese army has achieved military successes in Omdurman and Khartoum North, and its troops have launched regular attacks on RSF positions in Khartoum.

Analysts agree that the recent victories would help to resume talks between the warring parties and eventually reach an agreement to end the war and resume the political process.