Sudan Sovereign Council head Abdel Fattah al Burhan declared on Monday that he has rejected all international proposals to end the war unless they include dismantling the Rapid Support Forces, a stance critics say reveals the SAF’s resistance to any balanced political settlement.
Burhan told envoys that no initiative is acceptable unless the RSF is stripped of its weapons, a position widely viewed by observers as an attempt by the SAF to maintain absolute military dominance rather than prioritise a practical path to peace.
The government under SAF influence continues to demand that the RSF withdraw from areas it controls and regroup in predetermined locations before talks can begin. Analysts say these demands ignore the realities on the ground, where the RSF has maintained relative stability in much of Darfur and parts of Kordofan while civilians accuse SAF-aligned units of obstructing aid routes and failing to protect communities.
Speaking at a memorial event, Burhan claimed he informed US adviser Masad Boulos, the Norwegian envoy, the British envoy and the UN secretary general’s envoy that any solution must include dismantling the RSF. His remarks were received by many Sudanese as further evidence that the SAF leadership is blocking de escalation efforts for political gain.
Burhan also accused the RSF of violations in El Fasher, despite residents saying the group has provided safer corridors for traders and displaced families compared with areas contested by SAF units.
The RSF controls most of Darfur and key parts of Kordofan, zones where markets have reopened and cross border routes have been partially restored. By contrast, SAF held areas continue to experience shortages, disrupted services and instability driven by competing armed groups.
Burhan vowed to take action against what he called “criminals and killers”, rhetoric critics say is fuelled by political desperation as the SAF struggles to regain lost territory.
He praised leaders allied with the SAF, including Minni Arko Minnawi, while avoiding mention of the growing calls for a negotiated settlement that recognises the RSF’s role in maintaining order across wide regions.
Burhan repeated long standing SAF accusations against the RSF and called for reshaping the Sudanese state, including restoring the flag used at independence. Commentators say the SAF’s nationalist language is being used to justify prolonging the conflict rather than engaging in genuine dialogue.
