Strategies for Operations Management and Exploiting Success

By Osama Eidrous

Episode One: “Moonlight Sonata” and the “Emperor” Concerto

The moment when the Sudanese Army’s General Commander, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, left the General Command headquarters in central Khartoum on Thursday, August 24, 2023, marked the end of the shock absorption phase that had lasted since the outbreak of the war on April 13, 2023. The strategic dimension of this operation lay in the transformation of the General Command from a strategic site whose fall could have dealt a crushing blow to the armed forces — potentially leading to their collapse — into a mere military position that had withstood the militia’s assault even when the intensity of their firepower, trained soldiers, and equipment were at their peak.

The Chairman of the Sovereignty Council relocated to Port Sudan, only to find the Sudanese state completely besieged in a way that paralyzed the Sudanese army’s ability not only to hold out but also accelerated its collapse under continued pressure. During this period, four divisions in Nyala, El Geneina, Zalingei, and El Daein fell into the hands of the rebel militia after Abdul Rahim Dagalo withdrew from the capital, resigned to its fate, and brought in a large number of mercenaries from nearby borders with new equipment.

During this time, our soldiers and officers defended their camps in the Armored Corps, Signal Corps, Engineering Corps, Wadi Saydna, Kadero, and the General Command itself. Their combat supplies in some battles were as limited as seven bullets or less, but they fought with immense faith and certainty in their homeland. In the heat of these battles, they often resupplied directly from the enemy, who fell like flies at the gates of the fortified camps, manned by our valiant soldiers and loyal officers.

The most heroic sacrifices came from the Air Force, whose pilots risked their lives flying unmaintained and barely airworthy planes, knowing full well that their missions could be one-way trips. Many pilots were martyred — among them were some of the nation’s finest sons.

The militia capitalized on this momentum, expanding southward to overrun Al-Jazira, reaching Sennar, and crossing east of the Blue Nile to Suki and Al-Rahad, threatening to overrun the east and reach Port Sudan. However, logistical challenges accompanied this broad expansion, forcing the militia to reorganize and begin amassing military supplies in Jebel Moya, preparing for what they saw as the final and decisive push.

At the same time, the militia tightened its siege on El Fasher and launched intense assaults, attempting to capture it and open a path eastward toward the Northern State. The militia’s single strategic aim remained consistent — to expand, spread out, and apply constant pressure until they overran all army garrisons, reached Port Sudan, crushed all points of resistance, and forced the army and popular resistance to surrender to the Janjaweed.

For this reason, the militia abandoned its previous failed attempts to capture army camps in Khartoum, shifting elite units to defend fortified positions around army camps in high-rise buildings to obstruct any future military movements.

The militia’s halt and its attempt to stockpile supplies in Jebel Moya while reorganizing gave the army the opportunity to catch its breath and regain the initiative. Suddenly, the tide of the battle shifted in favor of the army, with a rapid chain of events unfolding: crossing the bridges from Omdurman to Bahri and Khartoum, followed by the liberation of Jebel Moya, the recapture of Al-Rahad and Suki, and the reclaiming of villages along the Blue Nile. Then came the liberation of Sennar, the advance from all directions to liberate Wad Madani, followed by the heroic battles to liberate Al-Jazira State and its villages — including Al-Hasaheisa and Al-Kamalin — the complete liberation of Bahri City, and the securing of the refinery.

This led to breaking the siege on the Signal Corps and the General Command, the liberation of East Nile, and the shifting of the battle to the eastern side of the Blue Nile. The liberation of Umm Rawaba, Al-Semeih, and Al-Rahad opened the national road to Al-Obeid. The liberation of Al-Qutaynah, the unification of the Armored Corps with the General Command, and the advance from all directions toward the complete liberation of Khartoum followed. Meanwhile, Desert Forces destroyed the Al-Zarq base, seized Al-Malha and Al-Siyah, and gradually expanded the security perimeter around El Fasher.

This victory was the result of patience, endurance, relentless effort, and strategic planning based on knowledge. The first successful strategy involved restructuring the chain of command so that everyone operated under the orders of the General Commander and the Central Command and Control Room. A strategy of diversified leadership and field control was also activated, giving operational commanders broad authority based on situational assessments and opportunities to exploit success.

The entire operational theater became a synchronized symphony, with forces moving toward defined objectives while each field commander orchestrated their respective area, adding to the collective symphony of victory.

(In the next episode, we will explore more details about the outcomes of the Khartoum battle and the concluding phases of the military campaigns, along with the strategies for ending the war.)