Sudanese Leader Cautions of Potential Spillover of War into Neighboring Countries

The leader of Sudan, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has expressed concerns to the United Nations that the ongoing war in his country could spill over into neighboring African nations. He also called on the international community to designate his opponents, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as a terrorist group. In response, RSF leader Hamdan Dagalo stated that he was prepared for a ceasefire. The civil war in Sudan began in April and has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people. A power struggle between the two generals who staged a coup in 2021 has led to their respective forces engaging in armed conflict. Gen Burhan expressed his party's willingness to engage in peace talks, but stated that the RSF refused. Gen Dagalo, on the other hand, sent a rare video message to the UN, expressing his readiness for negotiations. It is disputed who initiated the first act of violence, but the fighting has spread across various parts of the country, causing the displacement of millions of people and resulting in at least 7,500 deaths. Gen Burhan has been seeking international support by traveling around the world. He also highlighted the RSF's association with Wagner, a Russian mercenary group operating in several African countries. Gen Burhan argued that the RSF should be considered a terrorist group, citing their involvement in various crimes such as killing, rape, forced displacement, looting, and drug trafficking. However, both generals have faced criticism for their actions during the conflict. The UN envoy to Sudan expressed strong disapproval of the generals' decisions, blaming the RSF for sexual violence, looting, and killings, while condemning the Sudanese armed forces for indiscriminate aerial bombings. The US has already imposed sanctions on RSF leaders, including Gen Dagalo, and the West has been critical of Gen Burhan for his role in the 2021 coup that displaced Sudan's leading party.