PORT SUDAN: In the midst of ongoing conflict and battles in Khartoum, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the de facto leader of Sudan, has left for a diplomatic visit to Uganda, as announced by the ruling Sovereign Council. This trip marks his latest international engagement while the nation grapples with internal strife.
The conflict in Sudan has persisted since the eruption of fighting in the capital city, pitting the regular army, led by Burhan, against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces under the command of his deputy-turned-rival, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. The clashes have particularly centred around Khartoum’s military headquarters, where Burhan had taken refuge until recently. Despite a brief two-week lull in hostilities, clashes reignited, with the RSF bombarding the area with artillery fire, as reported by residents.
During his visit to Uganda, Burhan is scheduled to meet with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Kampala. The agenda of their discussions will encompass “bilateral ties and issues of common importance,” as outlined by the Sovereign Council in a statement. This visit to Uganda marks Burhan’s sixth overseas trip since he began making public appearances late last month. His earlier visits included stops in Egypt, South Sudan, Turkiye, and other countries.
Since the conflict’s onset on April 15, the toll of this war has been immense, resulting in a conservative estimate of at least 7,500 casualties, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. Furthermore, the conflict has forced over five million people to flee their homes, including a million who sought refuge across borders, as per the United Nations.
Eyewitnesses on the ground in Khartoum reported ongoing clashes, particularly in central areas, with the RSF unleashing heavy artillery on the army headquarters. Neither side has managed to secure a decisive advantage in the conflict, with the army asserting control over the skies while Daglo’s fighters have entrenched themselves in residential zones.
There has been a noticeable escalation in the intensity of airstrikes, resulting in an increased civilian death toll as the army endeavours to regain control of parts of the capital. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan assumed the de facto leadership of Sudan following the removal of the long-standing autocrat, Omar Al-Bashir, in 2019. He was appointed as the head of the Sovereign Council, a coalition of military and civilian figures tasked with navigating Sudan’s transition to a fully-fledged democracy.
