Al-Burhan from Al-Batana: The Call to Liberate Wad Madani
Sudan Events – Agencies
Sudanese Sovereignty Council Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, made an unannounced visit on Sunday to the Sudan Shield Forces camp in Jabal Al-Aghar in Al-Batana plain. Analysts view this visit as a significant step towards initiating military operations led by the Shield Forces under Abu Aqila Kekel’s command.
According to field sources within the camp, advanced weaponry, artillery, and drones were delivered to the Sudan Shield Forces prior to Al-Burhan’s visit. This move reflects a strategy to arm Al-Batana’s locals to liberate their region, particularly Wad Madani in Al-Jazira state, following the example of joint forces in Al-Fashir.
The sources also reported reinforcement of the camp with a swift force from the National Intelligence Service, which arrived before a visit by the agency’s deputy director and a senior security official. The camp has also been equipped with drone teams, modern artillery operators, and a significant supply of weapons and ammunition. These preparations aim to enable the forces to liberate Wad Madani and potentially undertake broader operations to reclaim Al-Jazira, particularly the Al-Batana plain. During his visit, General Al-Burhan described these forces as a “harbinger of victory for all of Sudan.”
Political Messaging
General Al-Burhan inspected the forces and their readiness, addressing recent speculations about a potential three-week ceasefire to allow Rapid Support Forces (RSF) elements to withdraw from urban areas and civilian facilities. Rejecting these claims, Al-Burhan dismissed any notion of ceasefires or negotiations, declaring that their only communication with the RSF would be “through the rifle.”
His confident tone and decisive statements during the visit were seen as an indication of imminent orders to liberate Wad Madani. Al-Burhan’s declaration, “We will meet in Wad Madani,” reinforced the notion that military preparations to retake the city are complete.
Reduced Prospects for Negotiations
Observers suggest that any future negotiations between the army and the RSF are unlikely to occur before the situation reverts to its pre-December 18, 2023, status—the date when Wad Madani was occupied. The military’s preparations for the Al-Jazira liberation campaign are reportedly advancing far more rapidly than calls for negotiation. The liberation of Wad Madani appears more imminent than the time it would take to convene negotiators.
Any potential talks would likely occur after the complete liberation of Al-Jazira and Wad Madani. This would place the RSF in a geographically constrained area from which their rebellion originated. The army’s anticipated military successes would strengthen its position in any revived negotiations under the Jeddah framework.
Liberation of Khartoum
Analysts further predict that the military may resume negotiations only after the liberation of the capital, Khartoum. Talks would likely focus on Darfur due to the region’s complexity and its status as a significant RSF stronghold, which complicates swift military gains there. However, negotiations over Darfur would likely prioritize the Jeddah framework’s stipulations, including RSF withdrawal from cities and public facilities, consolidation into a single camp, and eventual disbandment in exchange for a general amnesty.
Sudan Shield Forces Camp
Al-Burhan’s visit to the Sudan Shield Forces in Al-Batana plain appears to signal the final directives for liberating Wad Madani. His parting words to Kekel, “We will meet in Wad Madani,” are seen not as rhetoric but as a declaration of intent. After reviewing the operational status in Al-Jazira and assessing the RSF’s positions, Al-Burhan appeared assured of his forces’ readiness.
With divine support and meticulous preparation, Al-Burhan’s statement signals that the next meeting will indeed take place in Wad Madani—literally, not figuratively.
Source: “Sudanese Echoes”
