Sudan’s army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, made his first visit to the military’s headquarters in central Khartoum on Sunday since leaving the site in August 2023, following the outbreak of the conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Burhan pledged to continue the fight against the RSF, stating that the army would decisively defeat the paramilitary group, which has been engaged in fierce battles with the military since the war erupted in April.
Burhan’s visit came just one day after the army managed to break a months-long RSF siege on the General Command headquarters. The army launched a major offensive, connecting its forces in Omdurman and North Bahri with the Signal Corps base further south, ultimately crossing the Nile to reach the headquarters after heavy fighting with the RSF.
“The Armed Forces are in their best condition, and we will move forward with the determination of our people to eliminate this rebellion throughout Sudan,” Burhan declared while addressing the army’s Joint Chiefs of Staff at the headquarters. He praised the resilience of the officers and soldiers stationed at the headquarters, honoring those killed in the “Battle of Dignity” against the RSF.
Burhan reaffirmed that the army was working to secure the remaining areas of Khartoum, Bahri, and Omdurman in the coming days. In a visit to the General Intelligence Service headquarters in Bahri, Burhan made it clear that there would be no negotiations with the RSF, stating, “We will not accept any individuals who collaborated with the rebels.”
The ongoing war between the Sudanese military and the RSF has already resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and the displacement of more than 11 million people. The military has recently regained control over the al-Jaili refinery, located about 70 km north of Khartoum, which had been under RSF control since the start of the conflict. However, the refinery remains damaged, with fires continuing to burn for several days due to a shortage of firefighting materials.
The refinery, which typically supplies about 66% of Sudan’s fuel needs, was forced to halt operations in July 2023, and the damage assessment of the site is ongoing. Brigadier General Jaafar Muhammad al-Sheikh confirmed that while the refinery’s perimeter has been secured, unexploded ordnance and mines continue to pose a threat. Civilian authorities have urged people in the vicinity to remain cautious.
The army has also engaged in clearing operations in northern Khartoum Bahri and other areas, securing weapons and ammunition from the RSF. Despite these efforts, fires at the refinery and its damaged infrastructure remain a significant challenge to Sudan’s energy sector.