A Sudanese military officer in camouflage raises his fist during a demonstration in Khartoum, highlighting ongoing conflict.
Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has rejected negotiations with the Rapid Support Forces and pledged to retake all territory held by the paramilitary group. His declaration came as fighting continued in West Kordofan and Blue Nile. The conflict, which began in April 2023 after a dispute over the RSF’s integration into the army, has killed tens of thousands and displaced about 13 million people. Battlefield momentum gives Burhan’s camp confidence and strengthens his hand against domestic and foreign pressure for a truce. However, it narrows space for mediation, especially since the RSF still retains territorial and military leverage. The longer-term risk is that continued battlefield competition deepens fragmentation and delays a transition to civilian government.