Sudan’s Burhan denies Islamist sway over army, says ‘glory only for the gun
April 29, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan’s army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Tuesday denied Islamists control of the military and sparked controversy by appearing to reject peaceful protest in favour of force, declaring “glory is only for the gun.”
Addressing a civil service conference in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, Burhan said war had shown that demonstrations, work stoppages and civil disobedience “contradict civil service laws.” He added: “There must be clarity on how grievances are expressed.”
He declared the era of blocking roads with burning tyres – a common protest tactic signified by the slogan “Glory to the ‘satik’ (tyre)” – was over. “There is no more glory for the ‘satik’; glory is only for the gun,” Burhan stated.
The “Glory to the satik” slogan was widely used during protests against ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir and later against military rule following Burhan’s October 2021 coup. Demonstrations were often met with deadly force by security services.
Burhan initially led a power-sharing arrangement with civilians after Bashir’s 2019 overthrow but dissolved it in the 2021 coup. Conflict erupted between the army (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023.
Burhan also dismissed accusations by politicians that Islamists, seen as remnants of Bashir’s regime, were responsible for starting the current war.
“No one told us to go right or left; we are guided by the nation’s compass and defeating the rebellion, referring to the RSF and its collaborators,” he said, denying external influence on military decisions.
Sudan’s Islamist movement faces accusations of fuelling the conflict to regain power. Some Islamist elements are reportedly fighting alongside the SAF against the RSF.
Conflict ‘not against tribes’
Burhan denounced what he called “lies” suggesting the war targets specific ethnic groups, particularly amid recent RSF setbacks. “The fight is against the RSF and not against any tribe,” he stressed.
“The war is… against the person who bears arms against the state,” he added, addressing fighters in Kordofan and Darfur allegedly being misled. He dismissed threats reportedly made against them, referencing a term “Naffakh al-Nar” (Fire-Blower) used in warnings, calling such claims “a lie.”
The army’s “Al-Sayyad” (The Hunter) mobile force is currently deployed in North Kordofan state after retaking several towns and lifting a siege on the city of El Obeid. It is expected to advance towards the Darfur region.
Hopes are pinned on the Al-Sayyad force breaking the months-long RSF siege on El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, where the humanitarian situation has deteriorated amid shortages of food and medicine.