KHARTOUM: Sudan’s army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, appeared in a video published by the army on Thursday outside of the military compound in Khartoum for the first time since the start of a war more than four months ago.
The army has been fighting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces for control of the capital Khartoum and several big cities since 15 April.
Attempts to mediate have proven fruitless as envoys say both sides still believe they can win.
The war, during which neither side has gained a clear advantage, has caused high civilian casualties and displaced over 4.5 million, according to the United Nations.
In the video, which the army said was made on Thursday in the Wadi Sayidna air force base in Omdurman, Burhan greeted cheering soldiers, according to media reports.
He said in the video that the work the soldiers are doing should reassure the public that the army has men and that the country is being protected by the army.
Army chief’s video timing
The video appearance comes after a multi-day attack by RSF on the Armored Corps base in the capital, the army’s only remaining stronghold in the city outside its headquarters.
The Wadi Sayidna base in Omdurman where General Burhan appeared, remains well protected despite the attacks from RSF. Clashes between the forces continued in the capital as the army worked to cut off a main RSF supply route on the Shambat bridge to Bahri.
The head of the RSF, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo has often mocked General Burhan for what he termed hiding in a bunker. However, Dagalo has only been seen in the footage once since the start of the war, speaking to soldiers near a house in an unidentified location in July.
