Sudan’s Burhan rejects regional efforts for civilian rule, says fighters deserve priority
February 17, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Monday criticized regional efforts to restore civilian rule, saying those who have fought in the ongoing conflict should be given priority in any future government.
“I send a message to the United Nations and the African Union that the Sudanese people will not accept any government or (former Prime Minister Abdallah) Hamdok being imposed on them,” Burhan said at an event in Port Sudan focused on education in Darfur.
“Whoever wants to rule should come inside and fight with the Sudanese people… the priority is for those who are fighting now,” he added.
Burhan urged the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to stop meddling in “futile matters that will not win the approval of the Sudanese people.” He questioned why figures rejected by the Sudanese people were being proposed to rule them, saying, “This is unacceptable.”
Former Prime Minister Hamdok participated in a humanitarian issues conference organized by the United Arab Emirates on the sidelines of the recent African Union summit in Addis Ababa.
The AU plans to resume talks with civilian forces in the coming days, paving the way for a political process aimed at restoring a civilian-led transition after the end of the war.
The continental bloc has made the restoration of its Sudan’s membership conditional on the return of civilian rule. The country’s membership was suspended following the coup led by Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on October. 25, 2021.
Burhan ruled out the return of politicians who have left the country, saying: “As long as we are here, no one from outside will come here… I wonder about the countries that are calling for the return of Hamdok and asking us: ‘Do you accept that?'”
Hamdok served as prime minister during the transitional period before being placed under house arrest by Burhan following the coup. He was later reinstated after signing an agreement with the military but soon resigned.
Hamdok now leads the Smoud “Resilience” coalition, which was formed after the dissolution of the “Progress” coalition due to disputes between two factions within it. One faction seeks to form a government in RSF-controlled areas in the coming period.
Burhan said the battle against the RSF continues and will not stop until they are certain that no weapons remain in the hands of anyone outside the established systems.