Sudanese political analysts, academics, and media professionals have unanimously agreed that accusations against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) by General al-Burhan and his SAF commanders are attempts by the military leadership under Burhan to deflect attention from the atrocities committed by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) during the two-year-long conflict.
Experts pointed out that Al-Burhan, who has faced growing pressure from remnants of the ousted Islamist regime, is actively resisting calls to end the war, despite its severe humanitarian toll.
International reports continue to highlight the devastating impact of the conflict, but the SAF leader’s rejection of ceasefire efforts signals a deeper alignment with Islamist factions within his military leadership.
Targeting Civilians and Ethnic Divisions
Jatego Umwaja Dalman, a senior figure in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), described the war’s dangers as primarily targeting civilians based on ethnic, regional, and racial grounds. Dalman, who is also part of the Sudan Founding Alliance (Tasees), noted that the SAF had enforced the “Foreign Faces Law,” enabling authorities to arrest and deport individuals from regions such as Darfur, Kordofan, and the Nuba Mountains, claiming these areas harbor the RSF.
He emphasized that civilians are subjected to severe human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings by the SAF and allied militias. Dalman accused Al-Burhan of using rhetoric to cover up these crimes, arguing that his recent political maneuvers are a sign of an Islamist resurgence in Sudan.
Islamist Influence on Al-Burhan
Dalman highlighted that Al-Burhan’s past affiliation with the Islamist Movement (Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood), including his role as chairman of the National Congress Party in the mid-1990s, reflects the deep-rooted ideological connection between the SAF and extremist Islamic groups.
This longstanding association, he said, contributes to the SAF’s current tactics, which align with Islamist military doctrines.
Al-Burhan’s Limited Options
Sudanese journalist and political analyst Mohamed Al-Mukhtar Mohamed described Al-Burhan as a leader with few options due to his alignment with Islamist forces. According to Mohamed, Al-Burhan’s 2021 coup against the civilian transitional government left him susceptible to the influence of Islamists, undermining any credibility he might have had in the international community.
He further suggested that Al-Burhan’s failure to accept international calls for accountability, including the International Criminal Court’s demand for the extradition of former officials such as Omar Al-Bashir, is an attempt to avoid responsibility for crimes committed by his forces during the war.
Covering Up Failures
A member of the United Civil Forces (UCF), also part of the Sudan Founding Alliance, accused Al-Burhan of fabricating false claims against external parties, such as the United Arab Emirates, South Sudan, and Kenya, to deflect attention from military losses to the RSF. These accusations, she argued, are part of a larger strategy to mask the political and military failures of the SAF.
She also linked Al-Burhan’s attempts to regain power to the re-empowerment of the ousted National Congress Party, whose militias have reportedly been re-armed and mobilized under different names. She argued that Al-Burhan’s inflammatory rhetoric, accusing external actors of treason, is designed to confuse the international community and distract from the growing isolation of his regime.
Obstructing Peace Efforts
The UCF member concluded that Al-Burhan’s ongoing rhetoric and the deflection of blame are part of a broader strategy to prevent a genuine political process that could lead to peace. By framing external parties as enemies, Al-Burhan seeks to maintain control over a divided nation while stalling any efforts to end the war and address the Sudanese people’s aspirations for freedom, democracy, and peace.
