The head of the Transitional Sovereign Council in Sudan, Abdel Fattah Burhan, confirmed that he will not negotiate with the "Rapid Support Forces" as long as the war continues. This statement was made during Burhan's address to officers and soldiers of the army at the Wadi Sidna military area in Omdurman, west of Khartoum, which he visited yesterday, Friday, according to a statement from the Sovereign Council.
Burhan stated, "As long as the war continues with the Rapid Support Forces, we will not negotiate, and as long as there is an occupation of citizens' homes and the cities of Geneina, Nyala, Zalingei, El-Obeid, and Khartoum and Al-Jazeera, we will not negotiate." He added, "If the rebels wish to negotiate, they must first withdraw their forces from these cities and gather them in specific areas."
Burhan continued, "We are committed to the Jeddah platform, but the other party must fulfill its obligations as stipulated in the agreement signed in Jeddah." Talks sponsored by Saudi and American interests between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces on May 11 resulted in the first agreement in Jeddah for the commitment to protect civilians, and the declaration of several truces that were violated, prompting accusations between the warring parties and leading Riyadh and Washington to suspend negotiations.
Burhan asserted that "everyone is determined to eliminate the rebellion (Rapid Support Forces)," saying, "An army supported by the people will never be defeated." He added, "The army has been able to restore a large part of its defense industries, air fleet, and artillery and aviation systems," stating, "Soon, the battle will be resolved in favor of the Sudanese people." Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces have been engaged in a war that has resulted in approximately 13,900 deaths and over 8 million displaced and refugees, according to the United Nations.
