Sudan’s army chief visits recaptured HQ, vows to ‘eradicate’ RSF

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan’s army, made his first appearance at the military’s headquarters in Khartoum since government forces claimed to have broken the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)’ months-long siege.

Accompanied by top military officials on Sunday, al-Burhan praised the “resilience and sacrifices” of soldiers who defended the army’s General Command for 20 months, vowing to “eradicate” the RSF and pursue its fighters “in every corner of Sudan”.

He also hailed the continued operations by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) elsewhere in the country, including in Omdurman, Bahri, and el-Fasher, where fierce clashes have been reported in recent days.

At the headquarters, which had been encircled by RSF since the start of the war in April 2023, al-Burhan stated, “Our forces are in their best condition.”

The SAF’s announcement on Friday that it had successfully lifted the RSF’s blockade on Khartoum and restored control of some of the city signaled a potentially decisive turning point in the nearly two-year conflict. The RSF denied the army claims as “propaganda” aimed at boosting morale.

Earlier this month, the army recaptured Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira state, which had been held by the RSF for more than a year. After assuming control of the strategic city, there are rumors that military forces allegedly carried out ethnic killings.

The RSF has been accused of carrying out genocide during the war in various ways, including by the United States.

Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan, reporting from Khartoum, said al-Burhan’s comments on Sunday signalled that the general was not interested in diplomacy at this time.

“Al-Burhan made it clear he will not be holding negotiations with the RSF, that there will be no reconciliation, and that there will be fighting until the very last rebel is killed”, she said.

The army chief’s words are not the first time, but regional partners and the international community have also made an effort to reach a diplomatic solution. General al-Burhan appears to be favoring a military victory at this time, especially given how quickly the army has regained control of more territory in recent weeks.

Attack on a hospital that is “packed with patients”

The World Health Organization (WHO) head made the remarks at a hospital in El-Fasher, Darfur, where dozens of people were killed, during the ceremony.

The Saudi hospital, the main hospital in the besieged area, was the target of the attack late on Friday. Who was the attacker’s perpetrator at the time was unknown. According to a local official, the RSF launched a drone attack.

At least 70 people were killed and 19 others were wounded, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed on Sunday.

In a post on X, Tedros wrote, “The hospital was full of patients receiving care.”

The attack was described as a “violation of international humanitarian law” by Saudi Arabia.

Local organizations and international human rights organizations have previously reported RSF-related attacks on civilians’ displacement camps and other facilities.

Local authorities claim that more than 5, 000 people have died or been injured since the RSF’s initial bid to take over El-Fasher in May.

According to Amgad Fareid Eltayeb from the Fikra for Studies and Development think tank, El-Fasher is the biggest city in the Darfur region and has the largest operational airport. The army controls the last significant area in the area, making it the last major area.

Eltayeb told Al Jazeera, “The RSF has been trying to take El-Fasher to create the environment for the establishment of a government of its own along with its allies.”

“Darfur must be fully seized by the RSF and its allies in order to form a government, leaving Sudan with a regime akin to what occurred in Libya,” the RSF and its allies say.

Eltayeb expressed concern about the RSF’s ongoing attacks on power plants, oil refineries, and power stations since January 15.