Sudanese Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan has conditioned engaging in the Jeddah negotiations to end the fighting in the country on the withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from cities and residential areas.
In a speech delivered yesterday in the city of Atbara, Al-Burhan said: “There will be no negotiations with the terrorist rebel militia,” in reference to the RSF.
“We will not attend the Jeddah negotiation platform until they withdraw and leave civilian property and citizens’ homes in all Sudanese cities they have overrun,” he added.
As per Middle East Monitor, Al-Burhan’s remarks come three days after Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed El-Khereiji discussed the resumption of the Jeddah negotiations to halt the conflict between the army and the RSF with Al-Burhan in Sudan.
Since 6 May 2023, Riyadh and Washington have been mediating talks between the army and the RSF, resulting on 11 May in the first agreement in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where both sides committed to protecting civilians and announced several ceasefires. However, violations and mutual accusations have led the mediators to suspend the negotiations.
In his speech, Al-Burhan stated: “We will crush the rebellion. We are confident that this battle will end with the defeat of the militia and its allies.”
“We promised the displaced Sudanese, whose money was stolen and whose dignity was violated, that we will seek retribution for them and fully reclaim their rights from the militia. We will defeat them soon.”
There has been reportedly no response from the RSF to Al-Burhan’s statements.
