Sudan’s military leader Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has survived an assassination attempt, sparking fears of escalating violence in the country. The army spokesman, Nabil Abdallah, has blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the attack, which killed five people at an army graduation ceremony in Jabait.
The RSF, however, denies responsibility and has agreed to US-mediated talks next month. Gen Burhan, speaking after the attack, vowed to crush his opponents and ruled out negotiations, further escalating tensions in the conflict-ridden nation.
The conflict, which has created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, has displaced more than 10 million people since the former allies fell out over a political plan to move towards civilian rule. Previous talks have failed as both sides have refused to honor their commitments.
The attack on the Jabait army base, just 100km from Port Sudan, the military’s de facto capital, has raised concerns about internal disagreements within the military. Some analysts suggest that different factions within the army may be at odds, while others point to the RSF increasingly using drones to target army-controlled areas.
The Beja people in the area have a history of feeling ignored and marginalized by those in power, adding to the complexity of the situation. Despite the rising tensions, the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has accepted an invitation to attend peace talks, offering a glimmer of hope for a resolution to the conflict.
As Sudan teeters on the brink of further violence, the international community watches closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the crisis that has gripped the nation for over a year.
