Sudan’s Burhan Reshuffles Army Leadership

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

Khartoum — Sudan’s army chief and de facto head of state, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has carried out a major reshuffle of senior military officers, further consolidating his control over the armed forces as the country’s devastating civil war enters its third year.

The move follows the retirement of several long-serving generals, some of whom rose to prominence during the conflict against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

According to military statements, Burhan retained General Mohamed Othman al-Hussein as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff but appointed a new inspector general and a new commander of the air force.

The reshuffle, announced just one day after the retirement of high-profile officers, underscores Burhan’s intent to centralize command as fighting escalates in Darfur, central, and eastern Sudan.

In a separate decree issued on Sunday, Burhan brought all pro-army allied groups under his direct control. These include:

• Former Darfur rebel factions
• Islamist brigades
• Tribal militias
• Civilian volunteer fighters

Analysts say this step was designed to prevent the rise of rival power centers, a problem that gave birth to the RSF itself two decades ago.

Sudanese political leaders welcomed the move, noting it could block the emergence of another parallel force like the RSF, which has long operated with its own supply networks and command structures.

The civil war erupted in April 2023 when tensions over integrating the RSF into the national army spiraled into open conflict.

The RSF initially seized ground across Khartoum and central Sudan, but the army has regained territory this year, pushing RSF fighters westward. Fierce clashes continue in al-Fashir, Darfur, worsening what aid agencies describe as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.

The reshuffle comes just a week after Burhan met U.S. Africa adviser Massad Boulos in Switzerland. Talks reportedly touched on Sudan’s stalled transition to civilian rule, though little progress has been made.

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