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Port Sudan / Istanbul – Sudan’s Sovereignty Council Chairman, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has stated there can be no peace in Sudan until the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are eliminated. The paramilitary group has been in conflict with the Sudanese army, which Burhan commands, since April 2023.
Speaking to journalists at his residence in Port Sudan on Sunday, Burhan said, “There will be no peace until the RSF is eliminated. Any solution proposal that includes the RSF is nothing more than postponing the crisis. A lasting solution is to eliminate the RSF. This does not mean they all must die; it could also mean laying down their arms and surrendering.”
Widespread Destruction and Civilian Impact
Burhan highlighted the war’s devastating effects. He noted that the conflict has caused massive civilian casualties and widespread material damage across Sudan. “No Sudanese citizen has been unaffected by this war,” he said, adding that the public remains united against the rebel group.
International Mediation Efforts
Addressing global efforts to broker a ceasefire, Burhan suggested that the surge in calls for truce after the fall of El Fasher in October coincided with attempts to expand RSF territorial control.
“There were no ceasefire proposals during the siege of El Fasher. After it fell, the calls increased because they want the RSF to control more areas,” he said.
Burhan stated Sudan proposed Türkiye or Qatar as mediators, but the RSF rejected the idea. He added that other regional powers, such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, could also play a role.
“We trust in God first, then in Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” he said.
RSF vs Sudanese Army
Burhan stressed that the RSF and Sudanese army are not equal forces. “The two sides fighting here are not equal. The RSF is not equal to the Sudanese army. The whole world says this,” he said. Despite UN resolutions, Burhan accused the RSF of continuing attacks and smuggling weapons into Sudan, particularly in Darfur.
“We, as the Sudanese people and the army, are determined to eliminate the RSF. We are open to all peaceful solutions,” he said.
Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
The fighting, which erupted in April 2023 over disputes related to unifying the military, has led to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Tens of thousands have been killed, and millions have been displaced, Burhan warned.
