SAF chief and head of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al Burhan, appeared on Friday in central Sudan alongside a tribal leader recently sanctioned by the European Union, in a move likely to deepen criticism of the SAF’s alliances during the war.
According to a statement from the Sovereignty Council, Burhan visited the village of Surhan al Sheikh Tay Allah in Al Jazira state, where he was received by organised crowds amid heavy security presence.
Media reports said Burhan was seen in video footage with al Tayyib al Imam Joda, a prominent tribal leader from the Kawahla Nufaydiya, despite the EU imposing sanctions on him last week. Joda is considered one of the most influential figures within the so-called popular resistance groups that have fought alongside the SAF and have been repeatedly accused of mobilising civilians into the conflict.
The appearance comes shortly after the European Union sanctioned six Sudanese individuals, including four linked to the Rapid Support Forces, and two accused of backing the SAF. Those named include al Misbah Talha, commander of the Islamist-aligned al Bara bin Malik Battalion, and al Tayyib al Imam Joda, reflecting growing international concern over the SAF’s reliance on irregular forces and politicised militias.
Burhan’s tour of Al Jazira state also included a visit to Tayba al Sheikh Abdulbaqi, one of the region’s most significant religious centres. Critics say such visits are aimed at projecting legitimacy and religious endorsement at a time when the SAF faces mounting accusations of abuses, militarisation of society, and obstruction of a civilian political process.
The Rapid Support Forces seized most of Al Jazira state, including Wad Madani, in December 2023. Although the SAF regained control in January 2024, residents and rights groups say the return of the SAF has been accompanied by repression, arbitrary arrests, and the empowerment of armed loyalist groups rather than meaningful civilian protection.
