Sudanese army chief and Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced plans for a comprehensive political dialogue inside Sudan aimed at completing the country’s transition to civilian democratic rule. In an address delivered on the eve of Eid al-Adha, al-Burhan declared that the government would provide full support for the initiative, which he said would include involvement by those directly affected by the war. He also reaffirmed the military’s commitment to continue fighting “until every inch of the country is cleared” of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to a statement released by the Sovereignty Council on Facebook, al-Burhan said: “This holiday comes as the capital of my country regains its strength, and as our people prove every day that they are stronger and braver than any conspiracy.” Arrangements were underway for “a comprehensive political dialogue through which Sudanese will agree on the foundations of national reconstruction and governing principles that unite Sudan and end its recurring crises,” he revealed. The dialogue, he said, would determine the path toward completing Sudan’s civilian democratic transition. Al-Burhan stressed that the talks would take place inside Sudan and would include “those who bear the pain,” referring to people affected by the conflict between the army and RSF that erupted in April 2023. He rejected externally imposed political initiatives, saying Sudanese citizens “will not accept the outcomes of conferences and dialogues held in foreign capitals, where positions are bought and sold.” “The Sudanese government will invite national forces, excluding those whose hands are stained with the blood of the Sudanese people,” he stated, pledging government support for implementing the dialogue’s outcomes. Previous statements by al-Burhan indicated that the door remained open to national reconciliation, welcoming anyone willing to align with the state against the RSF. No immediate reaction was made by political and civilian groups aligned with the military or by the civilian pro-democracy coalition, known as “Somoud,” which opposes the continuation of the war. Al-Burhan’s remarks came as fierce fighting continued in Blue Nile State in southeastern Sudan, where the RSF has reportedly deployed thousands of fighters in an effort to seize full control of the region. Despite recent battlefield gains by the army and its recapture of several towns in Blue Nile State, the RSF continues to control the strategic border town of Kurmuk near Ethiopia. On Wednesday, Sudanese army personnel released video footage from the town of Al-Baraka, saying they had regained full control of the area after defeating RSF fighters and allied forces, inflicting heavy casualties, and capturing several combat vehicles.
