Al-Burhan: No truce in Sudan unless RSF withdraw from occupied areas

The head of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said on Thursday evening that there would be no ceasefire unless the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) withdrew from what he described as areas they occupy and regrouped in designated locations.

He made the remarks during a public event in Omdurman, west of the capital, Khartoum, according to the state-run Sudan News Agency (SUNA).

Fighting between the army and the RSF has continued since April 2023 over a dispute about integrating the paramilitary force into the regular armed forces. The conflict has triggered famine in parts of the country, created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, killed tens of thousands of people and displaced around 13 million, according to international estimates.

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Al-Burhan said the youth who led the December 2019 uprising that toppled former president Omar al-Bashir were “capable of uprooting the militias”, in reference to the RSF, to restore security and stability to the country.

He added: “There will be no truce with the rebel militias while they occupy cities and regions and commit violations against citizens.”

Al-Burhan also reiterated that Sudan would not accept any mediation role for the United Arab Emirates, accusing it of supporting the rebellion.

The UAE has repeatedly denied providing any support to the RSF and has stressed that it does not interfere in Sudan’s internal affairs.

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