Khartoum – Remarks by Sudan’s Sovereignty Council Chairman and army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, rejecting a truce proposal by the Quartet countries and denying the presence of Islamist elements within Sudan’s military and security institutions, have generated wide reactions.
“The worst proposal so far”
In a recorded address released by his office, al-Burhan described the latest ceasefire proposal presented by U.S. envoy Masad Boulos on behalf of the mediation group as “the worst so far,” insisting that his government rejects it.
He argued that the Quartet—which includes the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE—is “biased,” adding that as long as Abu Dhabi is part of it, “impartiality is impossible.” He accused Boulos of echoing the positions of the UAE.
Al-Burhan emphasized that “the Sudanese state is under threat” and called for unity to confront what he described as attempts to divide the country. He asserted that the “Dignity Battle” is a “battle for survival,” rejecting “half solutions.”
According to al-Burhan, the Quartet’s proposals call for “the dissolution of the army and security apparatus while keeping the Rapid Support Forces (RSF),” which he said was “unacceptable.”
He criticized the UAE’s participation in the mediation efforts, accusing it of backing the RSF, and expressed reservations about Boulos’s role, accusing him of “trying to impose solutions that disregard Sudan’s national concerns.”
Al-Burhan said the government had presented an alternative roadmap based on the RSF’s withdrawal from areas captured after the Jeddah talks and their regrouping in agreed-upon zones, paving the way for displaced people to return and for an internal political process to begin.
He denied allegations that the government was obstructing humanitarian work, saying authorities had authorized the use of airports in El-Obeid, Damazin, and Kadugli, and allowed air drops of aid in El-Fasher. He accused the international community of “failing to help civilians” in Darfur.
He also criticized international organizations operating in Darfur without coordination with the government, calling it a “violation of sovereignty,” even as he acknowledged their efforts to serve local residents.
Al-Burhan again dismissed claims that Islamists dominate the army or the state, saying, “Those repeating such talk are using it as a scarecrow to divide Sudanese society.” He reaffirmed that the military institution “is capable of reforming itself.”
Darfur governor warns of division under the “truce”
In parallel with al-Burhan’s comments, Darfur regional governor Minni Arko Minnawi warned against “attempts to divide the country under the guise of a humanitarian truce,” describing the current phase as “a dark moment politically and humanitarianly.”
He stressed that “a humanitarian truce is no longer optional but a necessity,” especially after recent events in El-Fasher, citing “a severe deterioration in humanitarian conditions,” thousands of civilian deaths and displacements, and a siege lasting more than two years.
Minnawi said the United Nations and its agencies had failed to provide even minimal protection for civilians, noting that El-Fasher had become “a symbol of the suffering of civilians—especially children—amid the absence of effective international intervention.”
“Resistance” alliance rejects al-Burhan’s denial of Islamist presence
Minnawi blamed the RSF for what he called “a worsening humanitarian catastrophe,” describing the group as “more dangerous than natural disasters due to its systematic destruction of infrastructure.”
He also lamented the “regional interventions” that he said have further complicated the conflict, and criticized “international silence” over RSF abuses.
Minnawi pointed to “certain regional and international positions” that have delayed decisive action, worsening the crisis and increasing the suffering of civilians. He questioned the “international community’s delay” in responding to the El-Fasher massacre, remarking that the arrival of food aid only hours after the killings “answers questions about delays and who benefits from them.”
He said such behavior fuels frustration and anger among Sudanese people who had hoped for prompt international protection.
Minnawi set out several conditions for a meaningful humanitarian truce, including the withdrawal of “armed militias” from civilian facilities such as schools, hospitals, universities, and markets, calling this withdrawal essential for any genuine peace. He also called for the release of abductees and detainees, including children, describing the move as a cornerstone of any truce with a truly humanitarian essence.
He further urged the expulsion of “foreign mercenaries,” calling their presence a threat to national sovereignty, and reopening main roads between cities to facilitate humanitarian aid and restore civilian life.
For Minnawi, any peace process must include all national forces, including war victims, displaced persons, and families, so that the truce reflects the collective aspirations of Sudanese society. He warned against the illusion that “liberating Khartoum alone will end the war,” saying some armed factions “lack a clear project” while others have “ambitions extending to the Nile sources, the Red Sea, and parts of Africa.”
He argued that Sudan’s crisis “is not just a war on the ground but a battle against humanity itself,” stressing that no truce will be effective unless it forms part of a comprehensive framework for peace and justice that embodies the Sudanese people’s aspirations and guarantees their right to freedom and dignity.
UAE criticism
The UAE quickly responded to al-Burhan’s remarks. Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy said, “Once again, General al-Burhan rejects peace initiatives. By rejecting the U.S. peace plan for Sudan and repeatedly refusing ceasefires, he consistently demonstrates obstructive behavior. This must be stated clearly.”
The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF in its war against Sudan’s army-backed government, though Abu Dhabi denies the allegations.
Commenting on al-Burhan’s denial of Islamist infiltrations in the military, leaders from the “Sumood” (Resilience) coalition called his remarks “a denial of reality.”
Babikur Faisal, a senior figure in the coalition and CEO of the Federal Gathering, said the Islamist movement is “deeply entrenched within state and security structures,” naming current officials he accused of long-standing ties to the movement, including intelligence leaders and cabinet ministers.
He added that Islamist control is “an undeniable fact known to everyone,” saying the group “holds sway across all levels of the state.”
Khalid Omar Yousif, deputy head of the Sudanese Congress Party and another Sumood leader, said al-Burhan’s statements were “not surprising,” adding that the Sovereignty Council chairman “has consistently aligned with the Islamist movement’s agenda.”
He likened al-Burhan’s denial of Islamists’ presence in the army to “asking for proof that the sun has risen.”
Yousif noted that al-Burhan had previously pledged to U.S. officials to curb Islamist influence in the military, arguing that his current denial “raises questions.”
He added that al-Burhan’s approach “contradicts the Quartet’s peace initiative,” which calls for a unified, professional army and the prevention of a return to the old regime, adding that “the Islamist movement is the only party rejecting a political solution.”
Meanwhile, RSF adviser al-Basha Tabeek said al-Burhan’s denial of Islamist involvement was “an escape from reality,” urging him to “stop the warmongers” and dissolve the “militias and al-Baraa ibn Malik brigades” that, he claimed, fight alongside the army.
Arrest warrants and UN appeal
Separately, a committee linked to the “Tasis” (Foundation) government—an alternative administration declared by the RSF in territories under its control—issued arrest warrants for al-Burhan, Sovereignty Council member Yasser al-Atta, and former North Darfur governor Osman Mohamed Kibir, citing “violations committed in El-Fasher.”
Although the RSF has itself been accused of widespread abuses, mediators’ proposals reportedly offer it a “second chance,” while the army remains committed to a roadmap demanding the RSF’s withdrawal from urban areas and their consolidation in zones far from civilians, as outlined in the Jeddah negotiations. The army also continues to reject any UAE role in mechanisms aimed at resolving Sudan’s crisis.
UN call for ceasefire
The developments coincide with a renewed call from UN Secretary-General António Guterres for an immediate end to hostilities, emphasizing the urgent need for peace in Sudan.
He called for safe, unimpeded humanitarian access and an end to the flow of weapons and fighters. Guterres urged Sudan’s army and the RSF to return to the negotiating table to achieve a viable solution to the escalating conflict.
(Source: Al-Quds Al-Arabi)
