In the prolonged and destructive conflict in Sudan, appearances are crucial, particularly given the conflict’s origins in a division between former allies. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), having lost ground elsewhere, regained control of the capital Khartoum earlier this year and aim to establish their unelected government there by October 2025. They emphasize the symbolism of their cabinet being located in the capital. Prime Minister Kamil Idris seeks international recognition as Sudan’s legitimate leader. However, SAF war chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Islamist groups he depends on, along with ongoing allegations of SAF war crimes, cast shadows over him.
Top SAF officials, Malik Agar and Lieutenant General Shams al-Din Kabbashi, recently visited Khartoum to assess security and infrastructure, signaling their intent to end their 16-month exile in Port Sudan. Their visit followed claims that they will fully establish their government in Khartoum by October. The SAF cabinet held its initial meeting in the capital on Tuesday, August 26, chaired by Prime Minister Kamil Idris at the Khartoum state government’s headquarters. State news agency SUNA called it a “symbolic step toward the return of state institutions to the capital,” amid ongoing security efforts.
However, while the SAF attempts to project this symbolism, the reality differs. Despite Idris having a call with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the UN and international community remain aware of the SAF’s conduct over the past two years. The United States has imposed sanctions on the SAF for using chemical weapons, detailed by the New York Times. The BBC reported on SAF’s torture and killing of detainees. Amnesty International documented SAF airstrikes on civilians, including a crowded market in Kabkabiya, North Darfur. Widespread civilian executions in Khartoum post-recapture by SAF were condemned by UN human rights chief Volker Türk.
The SAF’s heavy reliance on Islamist allies raises international concerns. Reuters spoke with military sources about thousands fighting alongside the SAF having ties to former president Omar al-Bashir’s Islamist movement. These links were visible when the SAF took the Republican Palace in Khartoum. Misbah Abu Zeid Talha, leader of the Al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade, was prominent in victory celebrations. Al-Qaeda has outlined its Sudanese ambitions, with Abu Hudhaifa al-Sudani, a senior leader with historical connections to Sudan and Bin Laden, calling for jihad and a Khartoum command center.
Sudan’s strategic position and resources make it attractive for Islamist forces seeking a foothold for attacks. The SAF’s reliance on such forces cannot be ignored by the international community. Additionally, any legitimacy Idris, Burhan, and the SAF might have is undermined by their complete resistance to peace efforts. Brief hope arose in Switzerland when Burhan met with US envoy Massad Boulos on August 11, 2025. However, Burhan publicly dismissed any compromise or reconciliation, insisting on a military victory for the SAF, a “battle for dignity, to defeat the rebellion, and to make neither compromise nor reconciliation, whatever the cost.” For international observers, this was expected after SAF’s consistent refusal to negotiate peace.
Symbolic actions, like a cabinet meeting in Khartoum, have limited impact when evidence shows SAF war crimes against civilians, dependence on Islamist allies, and a reluctance to engage in peace-making.
Leave a Reply