NEW YORK: Sudanese military leaders from opposing factions took to the international stage with conflicting messages at the United Nations on Thursday, highlighting the fragile state of the nation and the regional tensions surrounding it.
Army leader Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, speaking from the UN headquarters in New York, urged the international community to designate the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a terrorist organization. He also called for measures to counter its sponsors outside Sudan’s borders, expressing concerns about the potential spillover of months-long conflict into the region.
Meanwhile, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, delivered a video message from an undisclosed location. He expressed his forces’ readiness for a cease-fire and comprehensive political talks to resolve the ongoing conflict. Hemedti, whose whereabouts had been a subject of speculation, appeared in military uniform during the video message.
The conflict in Sudan, which began in mid-April, has not only engulfed Khartoum but also spread to other regions, including Darfur, leading to the displacement of over 5 million people and posing a threat to regional stability. International efforts, including those by Saudi Arabia and the United States, have attempted to secure a lasting cease-fire, but progress has stalled due to parallel initiatives in Africa and the Middle East.
Burhan, who has effectively ruled Sudan since a 2021 coup, pointed to the RSF’s alleged ties with Wagner, the Russian mercenary group facing Western sanctions for abuses in Africa. He warned of the war’s potential to destabilize not only Sudan but also neighboring countries.
The conflict has already claimed the lives of at least 7,500 people and inflicted widespread suffering on the population, undermining efforts to establish democracy in Sudan. Burhan’s recent international travels are seen as attempts to bolster his legitimacy.
At the United Nations, Burhan called on world powers to designate the RSF as a terrorist group, citing their involvement in various crimes. The United States recently imposed sanctions on RSF leaders, including senior commander Abdelrahim Hamdan Daglo, over alleged abuses, including the killing of the governor of West Darfur.
The power struggle between Burhan and Hemedti in 2021 led to the sidelining of civilian leadership established after mass protests toppled longtime dictator Omar Al-Bashir. Burhan reaffirmed his commitment to transferring power to the Sudanese people, with the hope of ending the military’s role in politics.
The divergent messages from the Sudanese military leaders underscore the complexity of the situation in Sudan and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
