Tagadom: ‘El Burhan call with UAE’s Bin Zayed an important step to ending war in Sudan’

In what some Sudanese politicians consider “an important step towards ending the war”, Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, commander-in-chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and chairman of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council spoke with President Mohamed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a telephone call on Thursday.

In a post on X on Friday, the UAE Mission to the UN stated that Bin Zayed “reiterated the UAE’s support to all initiatives aimed at ending the crisis in Sudan and to meet the aspirations of the people of Sudan,” during his call with El Burhan.

“There can be no military solution to the conflict in Sudan,” the post reads. “The UAE reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire, unhindered and safe delivery of humanitarian aid, and a return to dialogue towards a civilian-led government.”

Jaafar Hasan, chair of the Federal Gathering party and leading member of the Civil Democratic Forces (Tagadom) alliance, considers the telephone call “an important step”.

He told Radio Dabanga that the X post by the UAE government in the wake of the call focused mainly on stopping the war, adding that the UAE is an important country and cannot be bypassed in the issue of stopping the war in Sudan.

“Tagadom supports and encourages this type of communication, especially as El Burhan represents the leadership of the army.”

The leader of the Federal Gathering believes that “the sudden change in the army leadership is due to the deterioration of the situation in the country. Therefore, the army leadership has no choice but to stop the war.”

A change in the army’s position “will undoubtedly isolate the pro-war groups led by the Muslim Brotherhood, who have an interest in continuing the war to achieve their main goal, which is to stifle the civil democratic project,” the politician said.

Hasan believes that the changed position means that “the SAF has made up its mind regarding the kezan [pejorative term for Islamists in Sudan*], although the group supporting the war is diverse and complex, but it has nevertheless begun to erode”.

He stressed that the military should not be part of the state administration after the end of the war. “Even if one of them wins, he will rule with the gun, and therefore the steps must begin with stopping hostilities, then the system of government and the constitution.”

SAF commanders, in particular Gen Lt Yasir El Atta, deputy SAF commander-in-chief, have so far repeatedly stated that they will not enter into negotiations with the RSF. “This war will continue until our victory” – as “the Sudanese army does not honour a militia that has no doctrine other than murder, robbery, and rape,” El Atta stated in March.

Yesterday, he told the Arab Asharq Al-Awsat news outlet that the SAF believes its victory is inevitable as it continues in making steady progress in the war against the RSF. “The morale of the army troops is very high because Sudanese people stand behind it.”

Emirates News Agency

The state-run Emirates News Agency reported: “President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today received a phone call from Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of Sudan.”

“During the call, His Highness and the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council discussed relations between the two countries and their peoples, in addition to developments in Sudan and ways to support it in overcoming the current crisis. In this context, His Highness affirmed the UAE’s keenness to support all solutions and initiatives aimed at halting escalation and ending the crisis in Sudan in a way that contributes to enhancing its stability and security and fulfilling the aspirations of its people for development and prosperity.”

“His Highness stressed the importance of peaceful dialogue to uphold Sudan’s interests, and preserve its security and stability. His Highness also expressed the UAE’s continued commitment to supporting humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.”

Transitional Sovereignty Council

The media office of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council said that Bin Zayed extended an olive branch to the Sudanese leader, but El Burhan responded with a demand that the UAE stop supporting the RSF:

“The Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Lt Gen Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan, received a phone call from the President of the United Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“During the phone call, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed made it clear their desire to help stop the ongoing war in Sudan, whereas the chairman of the Sovereignty Council informed him that the State of the UAE is accused by Sudanese—and with a lot of evidence and witnesses—that prove the support of the UAE for the rebels [the RSF], and its support for those who kill Sudanese, destroy their country and displace them, and the UAE should stop that.”

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* The word kezan, or kizan, is a pejorative nickname used by many Sudanese for Islamist loyalists to the regime of Omar Al Bashir (1989-2019) and who enjoyed far-reaching privileges during his rule. Kezan is the plural of koz which means ‘wooden or iron mug’. The nickname is based on a description the Islamic Brotherhood called themselves when the founder of the group, the Egyptian Hasan El Banna, said: “Religion is a sea, and we are the mugs that draw from it”.