Face of Truth: Burhan’s Speech and the New Jeddah Agreement
Ibrahim Shiglawi
As Eid al-Fitr arrives, the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, addressed the Sudanese people yesterday in a speech laden with profound political and military implications. The speech came at a pivotal moment as Sudan faces existential challenges concerning the course of war, political stability, and the future of governance in the country.
Burhan’s speech was widely welcomed across Sudanese circles, particularly as it reaffirmed the steadfast principles of the Armed Forces in protecting the nation and rejecting negotiations with those who have violated its sovereignty and committed acts of terrorism against its people. He emphasized that the army aligns with the people and maintains an equal distance from all political parties—an explicit rejection of the political polarization that has dominated Sudan’s landscape in recent years, leading to the state’s collapse and its descent into war.
Burhan’s address carried clear messages. The first was that the Sudanese Armed Forces remain committed to reclaiming the state and liberating all territories controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which he described as a terrorist organization that has committed heinous crimes against civilians. He also issued a call to citizens in areas still under RSF control, urging them to sever ties with the Dagalo family’s colonial project—underscoring that the conflict has evolved beyond a mere military confrontation into a national battle against a project threatening Sudan’s unity and identity.
In a related context, Burhan stressed that Sudan will not return to political settlements that compromise its sovereignty. He asserted that genuine peace can only be achieved after the rebellion is crushed and security is restored. This stance aligns with the will of the Sudanese people, who believe that any political solution must be determined by their own volition rather than imposed by external dictates or international arrangements that merely perpetuate the cycle of war.
Amid the ongoing battle to reclaim national sovereignty, the RSF and its backers have launched political and media maneuvers aimed at shaping a new reality through media leaks and misinformation. One such ploy was the so-called “New Jeddah Agreement,” which observers dismissed as merely another tactic of the RSF’s propaganda war, designed to create confusion and distract from the military victories achieved by the Sudanese Armed Forces.
This development is part of broader efforts to reshape the political landscape according to foreign agendas. In this context, the name of Dr. Abdalla Hamdok emerged as a controversial figure, as he no longer enjoys acceptance at any level among the Sudanese people due to his role in the period preceding the war. This rejection was further solidified when he signed an agreement with the RSF in Addis Ababa in February 2024—a deal widely condemned as disgraceful. Under this agreement, he acknowledged a civilian authority in Khartoum, Gezira, and other areas previously under RSF control before they were liberated by the Sudanese Armed Forces.
This move disregarded the people’s will and the requirements of security and stability, demonstrating that some political actors remain intent on recycling the crisis rather than seeking genuine solutions to end the chaos and restore balance to Sudan. Furthermore, other provisions of the alleged agreement indicate an attempt to engineer Sudan’s political scene in a manner that dilutes the significance of the Armed Forces’ victories and grants those who supported the RSF an opportunity to regain political influence. The primary objective of this agreement appears to be to reset Sudan’s political landscape to square one, ensuring the crisis continues rather than being resolved decisively.
The realities on the ground, marked by the Sudanese Armed Forces’ victories, clearly indicate that power dynamics have shifted and that political paths cannot be dictated through external pressures or dubious deals. Instead, the future will be shaped by national will, which rejects any settlements that undermine the country’s sovereignty or allow the political scene to be restructured according to non-Sudanese interests. The amended constitutional document of 2025 has established a non-partisan civilian government and scheduled elections within 39 months, with the Sudanese Armed Forces assuming national sovereignty until elections are held.
Thus, from the perspective of the Face of Truth, the coming phase will be a true test of national choices. Either Sudan will continue its march toward liberation, stability, and security, or it will once again fall into the trap of political settlements that reproduce the crisis under the guise of temporary peace. In all scenarios, the stance of President Burhan and the Armed Forces will remain the cornerstone in determining Sudan’s future—a stance that does not appear likely to waver in the face of regional or international pressures as long as the ultimate goal is to safeguard the nation’s unity, security, and sovereignty.
May you all be well.
Sunday, March 30, 2025
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