In a strategic move to counter the recent diplomatic and military advances by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamad Hamdane Daglo, the Sudanese army has initiated a two-pronged approach involving both military offensives and diplomatic endeavors. Over the past two weeks, the army has been engaged in military operations against RSF in Khartoum, while General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan undertakes diplomatic efforts to garner international support.
General al-Burhan secured support from Algeria on Sunday, aimed at overcoming the challenging circumstances and countering forces that threaten Sudan. He emphasized the imperative for Sudanese officials to convene within the country rather than abroad, asserting that the solution to the crisis must be homegrown. Al-Burhan, in a speech on Tuesday, urged his adversary, General Mohamad Hamdane Daglo, and the former Prime Minister Hamdok, leader of the civil alliance Takadom, to engage in discussions for a Sudanese resolution.
Declaring, “No solution will come from abroad,” and emphasizing that “discussions must take place in Sudan,” General al-Burhan firmly stated that there would be no further foreign travel for meetings, including the cessation of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) involvement in Sudan, as Khartoum suspended its membership last week.
On the military front, the Sudanese army, following intense clashes, successfully reclaimed the former Omdourman district, initially seized by paramilitaries at the onset of the conflict. Additionally, air strikes targeted Bahri, north of the capital, marking qualitative and triumphant operations according to the army spokesperson.
Preparations are underway to besiege the Jabali refinery, now a base for RSF conducting attacks north of the capital. In Northern Kordofan, the army successfully repelled an RSF attack in Babnoussa, the second-largest city in the state. UN-led efforts are in progress to convene a national conference, bringing together both warring factions and all military and civilian forces.
The conflict in Sudan has displaced approximately “8 million” individuals, lamented Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (HCR), urging urgent assistance for those affected. As the situation unfolds, the international community closely watches the dynamic interplay between military and diplomatic strategies in the quest for a comprehensive and lasting solution in Sudan.