Burhan Demands Sudanese-Led Peace as War Hits Four Years

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the president of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council, has called for a peace process driven exclusively by Sudanese actors. Speaking in an article published by Foreign Policy, he argued that international efforts must not result in temporary ceasefires that collapse once global attention wanes. Burhan emphasized that the conflict, which has entered its fourth year, requires a permanent solution rooted in local agency rather than external mediation.

The conflict, which began in April 2023 following a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has displaced more than 14 million people. Burhan cited recent estimates placing the death toll at at least 59,000, noting that famine and widespread sexual violence have deepened the humanitarian emergency. According to the United Nations, the situation remains one of the world’s most severe crises, with civilian suffering compounded by ongoing military operations.

Rejection of Equivalence in Negotiations

Burhan explicitly rejected characterizations of the conflict as a war between two equal factions. He argued that the Sudanese state and the RSF should not be treated as equivalent parties under international law or in political negotiations. He accused the paramilitary group of responsibility for killings, looting, and atrocities against civilians, insisting that it should not be granted political legitimacy or treated as an equal partner in determining the country’s future.

The RSF has repeatedly denied allegations of systematic atrocities, accusing its opponents of violations instead. Meanwhile, the United Nations has documented serious violations by both sides and called for accountability. In a significant development, a UN fact-finding mission concluded in February 2026 that the RSF committed genocide against non-Arab ethnic communities during its campaign to capture El Fasher, citing evidence of specific intent and systematic attacks.

Evidence of Atrocities in Darfur

El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, became a focal point of international concern after the city fell to the RSF in October 2025 following an extended siege. Researchers from Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab identified more than 150 clusters of objects consistent with human remains, documenting patterns of mass killings and body disposal. A separate analysis published in March 2026 found that RSF attacks had deliberately destroyed agricultural communities around the city, disrupting food production and worsening siege conditions.

These findings have intensified international calls for investigations into alleged war crimes. The documentation of mass killings and deliberate destruction of livelihoods underscores the severity of the humanitarian impact. According to Sudan Horizon, these reports add weight to Burhan’s argument that the conflict cannot be resolved without addressing the scale of violence and the specific actions of the belligerents.

Foreign Interference Complicates Resolution

Burhan placed foreign involvement at the center of his argument, stating that outside intervention has prolonged and intensified the war. A UN fact-finding mission reported in September 2026 that transnational networks recruited, trained, and deployed foreign personnel to support the RSF, while facilitating the movement of weapons and logistical support. The same investigation found reasonable grounds to believe that the SAF had used foreign-supplied drones in operations that harmed civilians and infrastructure.

The involvement of external actors has added a complex layer to the conflict, making diplomatic solutions more difficult to achieve. As the war enters its fourth year, the focus shifts to whether international actors can support a Sudanese-led process without exacerbating existing tensions. Observers will watch for further developments in diplomatic channels and the extent to which foreign powers influence the trajectory of the conflict in the coming months.