Sudanese Sovereignty Council Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, on Thursday congratulated the Sudanese people on the centenary of the founding of the armed forces and the 71st anniversary of their Sudanization.
In a speech marking the occasion, Al-Burhan said: “I extend my congratulations to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of the armed forces on this historic day — a day that embodies the glory and heritage of Sudan. This glory was built by the Sudanese people themselves, the very builders of this great civilization and the founders of the armed forces, who have remained steadfast in supporting them.”
He saluted the Sudanese people, describing them as the makers of civilizations and the founders of a military whose name has become synonymous with defending Sudan. Al-Burhan recalled that when the armed forces were established in 1925 — unlike most armies in the world — they were not named after a monarch or any individual, but rather called the Sudan Defence Force, from which the resolve to build and preserve the nation’s history emerged.
The general noted that in 1954, the armed forces saw their first Sudanese commander, by which time the institution was already more than a century old in its origins. Before 1925, Sudanese units had fought as battalions and brigades alongside other armies, but following the White Flag League uprising in 1924 and the revolution in neighboring Egypt, the Sudanese force was separated and established under the name Sudan Defence Force, drawing its titles from the country’s history and heritage.
“When it was later named the Sudanese Armed Forces,” he said, “it truly became the emblem and title it bears today — fighting alongside the Sudanese people in the Battle of Dignity.”
Al-Burhan paid tribute to all Sudanese who have stood by the military, praising those stationed at frontlines across the country, particularly in El-Fasher, Babnousa, and Kadugli, as well as in every deployment defending justice and protecting Sudan. He also saluted those who have supported the forces in person or financially.
“We take pride in belonging to this institution, and the Sudanese people take pride in the deep roots and resilience of their armed forces,” he affirmed. Al-Burhan renewed his commitment to continue the Battle of Dignity, to defeat the rebellion, and to refuse any concessions or reconciliation, regardless of the cost.
“We will not betray the blood of our people, our sons, and our brothers who have fallen, giving their lives in defense of Sudan,” he concluded.
