Sudan’s army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has ruled out any possibility of compromise or reconciliation with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as the country’s devastating civil war enters its third year. Speaking on Thursday during celebrations marking the centenary of the Sudanese armed forces, Burhan reaffirmed his commitment to what he termed the “battle for dignity,” pledging to defeat the rebellion “whatever the cost.”
The remarks come in the wake of a confidential meeting in Switzerland between Burhan and US Africa envoy Massad Boulos. According to Sudanese government sources, the two discussed a new US-backed peace initiative. However, previous mediation efforts, led jointly by Washington and Riyadh, have so far failed to broker a ceasefire between the warring sides.
The RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, controls swathes of western Sudan and has reportedly sought to establish a parallel administration in those areas. The move drew sharp criticism from the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, which condemned it as “a direct threat to Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity.”
The war, which erupted in April 2023, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced over 13 million people, according to humanitarian agencies. The conflict has also triggered what aid organizations describe as the world’s worst hunger and displacement crisis, with millions facing acute food shortages.
Compounding the dire humanitarian situation, Sudan is now battling its worst cholera outbreak in years. The European Union, along with Britain, Canada, Japan, and other signatories, issued a joint statement on Thursday urging all parties to “urgently” grant access for international aid. “Civilians must be protected, and humanitarian access must be granted,” the statement read, warning that continued obstruction could push the country closer to complete collapse.
Despite mounting international pressure, neither side has shown willingness to make significant concessions. Analysts warn that Burhan’s uncompromising stance, coupled with the RSF’s territorial ambitions, risks prolonging the conflict indefinitely.
With millions trapped in conflict zones and aid deliveries blocked, humanitarian agencies say time is running out to prevent famine and further disease outbreaks. Yet for now, Sudan’s war remains locked in a dangerous stalemate with civilians paying the highest price.
