Sudanese army chief rejects US peace proposal

TT

Published 23.15

 

Sudanese army chief Abd al-Fattah al-Burhan. Archive photo. Photo: Marwan Ali/AP/TT

Sudanese army chief Abd al Fattah al-Burhan believes that a peace proposal sent by the US envoy to find a solution to the civil war in Sudan is the “worst yet”.

In a video recording released by his office, al-Burhan says that the quartet of mediators who presented the proposal is also “biased”. The mediation group, known as the Quad, consists of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

The opposing side in the civil war, the paramilitary RSF and its leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo – known as Hemedti – previously shared power with the Sudanese army and al-Burhan after they overthrew former dictator Omar al-Bashir.

General al-Burhan also accused US mediator Massad Boulos of repeating arguments from the UAE “like a parrot”. The UAE is accused of supporting the RSF financially and militarily in the civil war, something Abu Dhabi denies.

al-Burhan said the mediator’s proposal included “the army being disbanded, as well as the security services, and for (the RSF) to remain where they are”, which he considered “unacceptable”.

The RSF (from the Rapid Support Forces, the English translation of its name) has previously said it is ready to discuss a peace proposal, while its fighters have continued a violent and brutal offensive.

The civil war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary RSF is considered to be the most extensive humanitarian disaster globally at present.