Sudan’s military leader has announced plans to establish a transitional government in the near future, as the army continues to gain ground against paramilitary forces in both the capital and central parts of the country.
During a speech in Port Sudan, the country’s current administrative base, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan stated that the incoming leadership—described as either a “caretaker government” or a “war government”—would be made up of “independent” professionals.
“We are seeking to form a government in the coming period that will complete the tasks of transition,” Burhan said.
He stressed that a primary goal of the new administration would be to “accomplish the remaining military tasks… and cleanse all of Sudan” of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary group engaged in combat with the army.
Burhan also indicated that the government would take steps toward a broader transition, setting the stage for future elections.
A constitutional framework would be put in place before selecting a prime minister, he said, vowing not to “interfere in his tasks or duties.”
In a cabinet reshuffle last November, Burhan replaced four ministers, including those overseeing foreign affairs and media.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a brutal conflict between Burhan and his former ally, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who leads the RSF.
On Saturday, Burhan ruled out any peace talks with the RSF unless its fighters pulled back from Khartoum, West Kordofan, and Darfur, moving to “designated locations.”
The army has recently reclaimed significant areas in Khartoum and its surroundings, reversing nearly two years of RSF control.
The war has caused the deaths of tens of thousands, forced over 12 million people from their homes, and created “the biggest humanitarian crisis ever recorded,” according to the International Rescue Committee.
Military Gains in Khartoum North
Earlier in the day, Sudan’s army announced that it had seized a strategic district in the greater Khartoum area, pushing forward in its offensive against RSF forces.
Kafouri, a neighborhood in Khartoum North—also called Bahri—had remained under RSF occupation since the conflict erupted in April 2023.
Army spokesman Nabil Abdullah confirmed in a statement that government troops, working alongside allied units, had “completed on Friday the clearing of” Kafouri and parts of Sharq El Nil, a district about 15 kilometers east, from what he referred to as “remnants of the Daglo terrorist militias.”
The army has recently intensified its operations in Bahri, a stronghold of the RSF since the war began, forcing paramilitary fighters to retreat toward the outskirts.
Kafouri, one of the most affluent neighbourhoods in Khartoum, had been a key RSF base throughout the conflict.
The area housed several important properties, including the residence of Abdel Rahim Daglo, the brother of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo and his second-in-command.
By reclaiming Kafouri, the army has further weakened RSF positions in the capital, moving closer to regaining full control of Khartoum North, a city home to roughly one million residents.
