Sudan's Isolation and Massacres: What fate awaits the people under Al-Burhan's rule?

From time to time, international and local human rights organizations document horrific violations against unarmed civilians, committed by the Sudanese army and allied forces since the outbreak of war with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in mid-April 2023.

This week, after announcing the recapture of several areas in the capital, Khartoum, the army launched airstrikes on the Darfur region, killing hundreds and injuring dozens.

According to The New York Times, citing testimonies from the massacre site, the victims were poor, unarmed civilians with no ties to either side of the conflict. The report pointed out that the attack came from the air, while the RSF does not have warplanes, whereas the Sudanese army does and has previously conducted airstrikes in the area.

The report also mentioned photos and videos from the town of Tora in North Darfur, showing dozens of charred bodies and scattered human remains in the town’s market.

An eyewitness stated that four missiles hit the market—one targeting the center and three striking the outskirts.

The newspaper confirmed that the Sudanese army has been repeatedly accused of indiscriminate shelling in RSF-controlled areas, often resulting in dozens of casualties at once.

The exact number of victims remains unclear. A Sudanese monitoring group estimated the death toll in the dozens, while the organization Avaaz claimed that the number exceeds 200, citing a handwritten list from activists in Darfur that included 54 names of victims.

The Sudanese civil war has displaced nearly 13 million people since its outbreak and resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, according to estimates from the United Nations and Western governments.

Not the First Time

The deadly airstrike is not the first such incident. Earlier this year, Human Rights Watch documented violent abuses against civilians in Gezira State during an attack by forces allied with the army.

According to the organization, the “Sudan Shield Forces,” a militia fighting alongside the Sudanese Armed Forces, deliberately targeted civilians in an attack on January 10, 2025, on the village of Kombo Tayba in central Sudan.

The report stated, “The attack on Kombo Tayba killed at least 26 people, including a child, and injured others. The militia systematically looted civilian property, including food supplies, and set homes on fire. These acts constitute war crimes, and some, such as deliberately killing civilians, may also amount to crimes against humanity.”

Jean-Baptiste Gallopin, a senior researcher on crises, conflicts, and arms at Human Rights Watch, stated, “Armed groups fighting alongside the Sudanese army committed violent abuses against civilians in their latest attack in Gezira State. Sudanese authorities must urgently investigate all reported violations and hold the perpetrators accountable, including the leaders of the Sudan Shield Forces.”

The organization’s researchers interviewed eight survivors of the Kombo Tayba attack, who also witnessed key surrounding events. They analyzed satellite images, photographs, and videos shared by survivors, which showed corpses, fire damage caused by the attackers, burial sites of victims, and a list confirming the names of 26 killed individuals.

Earlier this year, the Sudanese Human Rights Observatory reported on “horrific violations committed against many citizens after the Sudanese army took control of Wad Madani in January, which are still ongoing, writing a new chapter in Sudan’s war that is growing increasingly brutal against civilians.”

The report highlighted that the violence mainly targeted agricultural workers and residents of poor neighborhoods, particularly in the areas of “Kombo Khamsa” and “Kombo Tayba” in the Umm Al-Qura locality. These groups suffered from various forms of abuse, including terrorization, torture, home burnings, and forced displacement of families—including women, children, and the elderly—acts that amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Tensions With Neighboring Countries

As the war nears its second year, Sudan’s relations with neighboring countries have deteriorated further. These relations were already strained due to Sudan’s long history of armed conflicts and tensions with its neighbors, escalating political, security, and economic instability in the region.

Despite efforts by neighboring countries to end the war—such as hosting Sudanese refugees in Chad, South Sudan, and other states, and Kenya’s diplomatic efforts to broker peace—the Sudanese army has chosen a path of hostility and boycott, even threatening war.

Amid international efforts to end the conflict, Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan refused an invitation from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to participate in a summit in Uganda, citing the failure of the previous summit in Djibouti to implement its resolutions. This decision shocked many Sudanese citizens who had been hoping for negotiations between the warring parties to end the conflict.

In contrast, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) welcomed the invitation and announced his participation, aligning with his stance in favor of a comprehensive peaceful resolution.

The Sudanese Sovereign Council’s media office stated, “We reaffirm that what is happening in Sudan is an internal matter, and our engagement with regional initiatives does not mean we are giving up our sovereign right to resolve Sudan’s problems through Sudanese solutions.”

The Role of Extremism in Sudan’s Leadership

Political analysts attribute Burhan’s rejection of peace initiatives to the influence of extremist Islamist factions over the army’s decision-making.

Political analyst Alaa Eldin Babiker commented:

“Burhan’s government is pursuing a self-serving project that benefits a small group controlling state institutions. The entire world sees this, but instead of acknowledging their mistakes and correcting them, they choose to antagonize everyone and persist on a path of nihilism.”

He added, “No matter how much they try to manipulate public sentiment with emotional slogans, the Sudanese people can now see for themselves that the same tactics used by Omar al-Bashir’s regime—against which they revolted—are being repeated today under Burhan’s rule.”

Sudanese writer and political analyst Osman Mirghani echoed similar sentiments, stating:

“General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s statements rejecting external mediation to resolve Sudan’s crisis contradict his previous actions.”

He explained, “Burhan himself sought the IGAD initiative, visited member states, and requested a summit, which was granted. This clearly shows that he initiated the process. Yet, afterward, he decided to suspend Sudan’s membership in IGAD entirely.”

He further noted, “There is a contradiction between Burhan’s actions and statements. However, I believe that such remarks, particularly when delivered in military settings, are more about appealing to his audience in the room rather than addressing facts, realities, or the international community.”