In a raucous speech to the military, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of Sudan’s armed forces, has pledged to battle against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) until they are “completely destroyed.”
The speech delivered to the troops at 3rd infantry division in Shendi comes after claims of Sudanese army gains in parts of Omdurman following the usage of Mohajer-6 drones supplied by Iran’s revolutionary guards.
Al-Burhan declared the ongoing conflict a “Battle of Dignity” and stressed that the armed forces would continue their efforts until the complete elimination of the RSF, emphasizing their refusal to surrender weapons.
Al-Burhan called on RSF to evacuate Al-Jazirah, Khartoum, and other areas in western and southern Sudan, underlining that peace talks are not possible with the RSF unless they agree to all of military’s demands.
The speech comes in the wake of the Sudanese army declaring strategic progress in Omdurman, asserting the successful lifting of a prolonged siege on the Engineers Corps.
Lt. Gen. Shams al-Din Kabashi, Sudan’s Deputy Commander-in-Chief, outlined on February 15 the military’s peace conditions with the RSF, specifying that a ceasefire hinges on the full evacuation of all areas, public facilities, and private firms, with the RSF soldiers being held in designated cantonment sites.
Iranian drones and weapons
A key factor believed to be behind the Sudanese army’s decision to renew ties with Iran is its pursuit of military support amid significant setbacks faced by its forces in recent months.
These setbacks have occurred on various strategic fronts, notably in Nyala and Wad Madani, which are the country’s two largest cities following Khartoum, in the ongoing conflict against the RSF.
Iranian combat drones, particularly Mohajer-6, are highly sought after by the Sudanese military.
According to senior Western officials who spoke to Bloomberg, some of these UAVs have already been delivered to Sudan and utilized by the SAF.
The RSF has asserted that they have successfully downed at least three of these drones in Greater Khartoum.
Since early December, an Iranian cargo plane linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has made multiple flights between southern Iran and eastern Sudan, as reported by Sudan War Monitor’s flight-tracking data analysis.
The aircraft was photographed in Port Sudan on one occasion, but the specific date remains unknown.
The same aircraft has been observed traveling to Oman, aligning with flights originating from eastern Sudan, and is suspected to transport weapons for the SAF. This plane has previously delivered weaponry, including Muhajer-6, to various nations, including Ethiopia.
Short term gains, future uncertain
Many military analysts share the view that the assistance provided is unlikely to be significantly increased in the short term, reaching levels substantial enough to sway the balance of the war in favor of the SAF.
This is particularly evident as the army’s challenges extend well beyond the limitations of its arsenal.
However, this assistance has the potential to enable strategic strikes against the RSF, disrupting its supply lines and reinforcing the SAF’s offensives.
In addition to military assistance, the renewed ties with Iran are seen as an indication of the increasing influence of Islamist factions aligned with the former regime of Omar Al Bashir. These factions have historically maintained robust connections with Tehran and are believed to still wield significant influence within both the higher echelons of the SAF and Sudan’s foreign ministry.
The strengthening of relations with Iran is raising concerns as it coincides with the swift resurgence of Islamist militias and military units associated with or influenced by the SAF in regions controlled by the army in Sudan.
In the era of Bashir, reports suggested that advisors from the Iranian army and the Revolutionary Guard were dispatched to Sudan to aid in the organization and training of paramilitary forces aligned with the regime.
Bashir-Iran connection reignited
After a seven-year break, diplomatic ties between Iran and Sudan were reestablished in October 2023, following extensive high-level discussions between the two nations. Mutual consent led to the reopening of embassies and the initiation of delegations to explore potential areas of collaboration.
Sudan cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016, closing the Hussainiyat halls and Iranian Cultural Mission.
Sudan had also accused Iran of seeking to spread the Shia sect in the country.
Sudan’s army-controlled Foreign Minister Ali Al-Sadiq met with Iranian President Ibrahim Raeisi in February, signifying the first high-level visit to Iran by a Sudanese official since the severance of diplomatic ties between the two nations in 2016.
Sadiq held discussions with President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
Sudan has since April 15, 2023 been plunged into a civil war pitting army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The conflict has resulted in a devastating toll, with over 12,190 casualties and the displacement of more than seven million people, according to estimates by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project and UN figures, respectively.
Mediation efforts have faced significant obstacles due to deep-seated animosity between the rival factions. Despite Burhan’s administration continuing to issue statements as Sudan’s government, Dagalo’s Rapid Support Forces assert control over Khartoum’s streets, Darfur, and a substantial part of Al-Jazira, once Sudan’s vital agricultural region.
