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August 24 (Port Sudan) – Sudanese military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Saturday rejected a US proposal to limit peace talks to the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Burhan insisted that any negotiations must include broader representation of the Sudanese people and government. He accused the United States of trying to exclude civilian voices and legitimize the RSF through recent talks in Geneva.
The United States, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland organized discussions in Geneva on how to ensure a humanitarian ceasefire. But Sudan boycotted the meeting, accusing the US envoy to Sudan of imposing the agenda and rejecting the UAE’s involvement in the process.
“We will not allow this war to degenerate into a conflict between the armed forces and the Rapid Support militia,” Burhan told a news conference in Port Sudan. “As long as the armed forces are defending the rights of the Sudanese people, their rights will not be lost.”
The military leader also vowed to continue fighting the RSF “even if it takes 100 years” and denied any possibility of dialogue with RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, nicknamed Hemetti.
Burhan’s defiant stance comes amid growing international pressure to end the disastrous conflict, which has killed thousands and displaced millions since April 2023.
His press conference came 24 hours after participants of the Sudan peace conference held a media briefing in Geneva.
Burhan also accused the civilian political group “Forces for Free Change” of being the “mouthpiece of the militias” and urged them to “repent.”
He claimed that Sudan was facing a “major conspiracy” by unknown international and regional actors and accused some neighboring countries of actively plotting against Sudan while others stood by or supported the Rapid Security Forces.
Despite these challenges, Burhan expressed confidence in the army’s ability to overcome difficulties. He called the army’s current military condition “better than before” but acknowledged that the war had lasted longer than expected.
“The war has been going on for a long time and there is no telling when it will end. War requires patience,” Burhan said.
He also expressed his willingness to form a civilian government of temporary technical experts to manage state affairs, but stressed the need for “popular support, parliament and popular consultation.”
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