Sudan’s military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has announced a sweeping reshuffle of senior army officers, a move seen as tightening his grip on the armed forces while consolidating control over central and eastern regions, even as violent clashes continue in the west.
The Sudanese army, which currently governs the country, has been locked in a devastating civil war for more than two years with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—its former power-sharing partner. The conflict has triggered what the United Nations describes as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
On Monday, Burhan unveiled new appointments to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a day after ordering the retirement of several long-serving officers, some of whom rose to prominence during the war. While General Mohamed Othman al-Hussein was retained as chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Burhan named a new inspector general and a new head of the air force.
In a separate decree issued Sunday, Burhan also brought all other armed groups fighting alongside the army under his authority. These include former Darfur rebel factions, Islamist brigades, civilian volunteers, and tribal militias that have joined the conflict.
Sudanese politicians welcomed the move, saying it could prevent the rise of alternative power centers within the military and reduce the likelihood of parallel forces similar to the RSF.
The RSF originated from Arab militias armed by the Sudanese military in the early 2000s to wage war in Darfur. Over time, it developed its own independent structures and supply chains, ultimately evolving into a formidable rival power.
Burhan’s reshuffle comes shortly after his meeting in Switzerland with U.S. senior Africa adviser Massad Boulos, during which discussions reportedly included Sudan’s stalled transition to civilian governance.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 over disagreements on integrating the army and RSF, has left Sudan deeply fractured. The RSF quickly captured areas in central Sudan, including parts of the capital, Khartoum, but the army has since regained ground, pushing RSF forces westward and intensifying battles in Al-Fashir, Darfur’s capital.
