Sudanese military leader arrives in Port Sudan, ahead of regional tour
August 24, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Chairman of the Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Army, arrived in Port Sudan on the Red Sea on Thursday evening. This followed a brief stopover in Atbara of the River Nile State.
Earlier on Thursday, Burhan executed a daring military manoeuvre that left the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) perplexed. He successfully reached the Wadi Seidna army air base in Omdurman situated 22 kilometres north of Khartoum where he was at the army headquarters.
Despite previous assertions by RSF leaders that he was confined to the basement of the army command in Khartoum, Burhan’s actions defied these claims.
After his arrival in Omdurman, al-Burhan conducted inspections of army forces in both the Karari military area and the Wadi Seidna Air Base. Subsequently, he was transported via military helicopter to the artillery corps command in Atbara, approximately 300 kilometres north of Khartoum.
Thursday evening saw Burhan’s arrival in Port Sudan, an eastern city on the Red Sea. During this visit, he inspected the stationed army forces and engaged with a group of ministers. Port Sudan has functioned as the administrative capital since the conflict erupted in mid-April.
The unexpected nature of these events has ignited widespread speculation, with individuals attempting to decipher how Burhan’s actions may have impacted the war’s dynamics.
Commentators have offered diverse perspectives, suggesting a possible arrangement with his rival, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, also known as “Hemetti.” Alternatively, there are theories that he utilized a boat due to the army’s continued control over portions of the general command leading to the Nile River.
Furthermore, an RSF commander released a video during the day, revealing that at 00:002, Al Burhan departed from the General Command via a helicopter. He further explained that they initially believed the helicopter was being used for the evacuation of an individual who was unwell.
Reliable sources disclosed to Sudan Tribune that al-Burhan is slated to embark on a regional tour, commencing on Friday, which will encompass visits to Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The primary focus of this tour is to explore avenues for resolving the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan.
While mediation efforts for a ceasefire agreement are ongoing through Saudi Arabia and the U.S., Egypt has established a platform for neighbouring countries to mediate a political settlement for the conflict.
Al-Burhan welcomed the Egyptian initiative while maintaining a stance of hostility towards the efforts of the IGAD and the African Union.
(ST)