WADI HALFA – Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said on Wednesday there was “no place for an agent, traitor or mercenary” in Sudan, while declaring the country open to Sudanese who seek peace, return and dialogue.
Speaking at a public gathering in Wadi Halfa in Northern State, Burhan rejected what he described as external dictates and said Sudanese people alone should determine the country’s political future and choose their leaders through elections.
The remarks come as international and regional efforts intensify to secure a ceasefire and political settlement to the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023.
Burhan, chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council and commander of the SAF, has repeatedly said any peace process must preserve Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and should not impose political arrangements from outside the country.
He praised residents of Wadi Halfa and Northern State for what he described as their sacrifices and support for the army during the conflict, known by the military and its supporters as the “Battle of Dignity.”
Burhan also paid tribute to the area’s historical role and the sacrifices made by communities affected by the construction of the Aswan High Dam, which displaced large numbers of Nubian residents from the Wadi Halfa region.
He said the government was committed to addressing public-service problems and other challenges facing the region.
Burhan also called for greater investment in agriculture, saying expanding production was essential to strengthening Sudan’s food security at a time when the war has disrupted farming, trade and supply chains across several parts of the country.
Sudan’s agricultural sector has come under increasing pressure from conflict, displacement, rising production costs and disruptions to irrigation and transport, contributing to worsening food insecurity.
Burhan praised troops deployed on multiple fronts and reiterated the army’s determination to defeat the RSF, which the authorities aligned with the SAF describe as a rebel militia.
His comments underline the tension between continued military operations and diplomatic efforts seeking a negotiated halt to the fighting.
Burhan also thanked Egypt and said Egyptian nationals in Sudan were being provided with security and protection.
He called for continued cooperation between Sudan and Egypt and for increased bilateral trade, reflecting the close political and economic ties between the two neighboring countries.
