Sudan’s Sovereign Council leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has unequivocally stated that a return to the pre-conflict status quo with the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is not an option.
Speaking on the occasion of Sudan’s 69th independence anniversary, al-Burhan denounced the RSF as “murderers and criminals” and dismissed any possibility of reintegrating the group into Sudanese society.
“There is no going back to the situation before April 15, 2023, nor can we accept the presence of these criminals among the Sudanese people,” he declared in a televised address aired on Sudanese state television on Tuesday.
While al-Burhan rejected reconciliation with the RSF, he emphasized his readiness to participate in peace initiatives aimed at ending the conflict and facilitating the safe return of displaced civilians.
A Country in Crisis
Since hostilities erupted in April 2023 between Sudan’s military, led by al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the humanitarian toll has been catastrophic. According to the United Nations, the violence has resulted in nearly 25,000 deaths and displaced over 10 million people.
The conflict has devastated 13 of Sudan’s 18 states, causing widespread destruction, famine, and egregious violations against civilians. Mediation efforts spearheaded by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have thus far failed to achieve a durable ceasefire, with both factions blaming each other for derailing peace talks.
Sudan remains mired in turmoil, with millions of lives hanging in the balance and little hope for an immediate resolution.
