Al-Burhan reiterates warning threats to Sudanese Islamists

November 13, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Army Sunday renewed his warnings to the Islamists and other opponents against any attempt to use the army to bring them to power again.

A week after the first warning on November 6, al-Burhan reiterated his threats to the Sudanese Islamists in a speech to the Sudanese troops at Al-Markhayat military base on the outstrike of Omdurman, west of the capital.

But this time, he mentioned the Communists and Baath parties.

Referring to the ongoing talks with the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), al-Burhan said that they “want a civilian government protected by the army,” stressing that “the Islamists will not return to power on the back of the military again.”

This time, he spoke further about the talks with the FFC stressing that the civilian government would not interfere in the security reforms which would be planned and conducted by the military without any interference from the civilians.

He also dismissed rumours about the dismantling of the army and the expulsion of some people from the military establishment. He told the soldiers that no one would dare to take their weapons.

“These weapons belong to the Sudanese people, which entrust you with. You are the ones who swore to protect the country. Therefore, we are reassured, and we tell the people that these are your sons, they will not betray their oath, and they will remain the preservers and protectors of this country”

The Trilateral mechanism recently said the army leaders are ready to hand over power to a civilian government to be formed by the political forces but they refuse any reform by a non-elected government.

Referring to his October 25 coup, al-Burhan said it was necessary because the FFC interfered in its affairs.

“Anyone who talks about the army or tries to interfere in its affairs will be considered as their enemy, whether they are Islamists, communists, Baathists and others, we will not allow them to do so,” he reiterated.

“We watch and keep an eye on some of those who incite our officers and soldiers to do a destructive act. We tell them, be careful of your deeds.”

Former officers from an armed group
Meanwhile, a group of former Sudanese army officers held a press conference in Khartoum on Sunday to announce the establishment of a new armed movement “Patriot Forces” to protect the interest of north and central Sudan including eastern Sudan, Blue Nile and Kordofan.

The leaders of the group said they want to create a military balance between the states that established armed groups and control now the important positions in the government alluding to Darfur armed groups.

The group which includes a number of Islamist officers sacked after the revolution said they target the cancellation of the Juba peace agreement which enabled some groups to control power in Khartoum.

The large presence of Darfurian leaders in the federal institutions after the coup in addition to threats by some Darfur tribal leaders to attack Khartoum or displacement of Khartoum people to Darfur, all these statements created uncertainties among the population in central and northern Sudan.

The new military group is suspected of surfing on these fears.

Unformed reports say the group leaders including the former spokesman of the Sudanese army Khalid Alsawarmi were arrested on Sunday evening.

Alsawarmi said they have armed divisions under their control.

(ST)