Sudanese army chief General Burhan survives drone attack

Sudan’s military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has survived an assassination attempt, a military spokesman told the BBC.

Nabil Abdallah blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the force the army has been battling for control of the country for the past 16 months.

He said two drones had attacked an army graduation ceremony, killing five people at a base in Jabait in the east – territory controlled by the army.

But RSF’s legal adviser told Reuters that the group, which has agreed to take part in US-brokered talks next month, was not responsible.

Speaking after being evacuated to safety following the attack, General Burhan vowed to crush protesters and ruled out the possibility of negotiations.

“We will not retreat, we will not surrender and we will not negotiate,” AFP news agency quoted him as saying.

On Tuesday, his government agreed conditionally to participate in mediation in Geneva on August 14.

Previous talks to end the conflict, which has sparked the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, have failed as both sides have refused to honour their commitments.

More than 10 million people have fled their homes since former allies fell out over an internationally backed political plan for civilian rule.

Jabait military base is about 100km (62 miles) from Port Sudan, the army’s de facto capital and where General Burhan is based.

Video shared by attendees at the ceremony on Wednesday morning shows graduates marching in ceremonial dress before gunfire is heard.

“The only party that is hostile to the Sudanese people and targeting the Sudanese people is the rebel Rapid Support Forces,” Gen Abdallah told the BBC.

He thanked God that General Burhan and “all the commanders present are fine” and that there were no serious injuries.

However, Mohamed al-Mukhtar, RSF’s legal adviser, blamed the drone attacks on infighting within the military.

“The RSF has nothing to do with the drones that targeted Jabait today… they are the result of internal disagreements among Muslims,” he told Reuters.

There have been allegations in recent months that different factions within the military are at odds.

Some analysts point to an incident that occurred during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in April when several commanders of a military brigade called Abaraa Iban Malik were killed in drone strikes in the northeastern town of Atbara.

Analysts say the brigade may have been targeted by more moderate elements within the military as it is believed to include hardline Islamists opposed to peace talks.

Others, however, say the RSF is increasingly using drones to target military-controlled areas.

Only the army and the RSF have access to drones, which have been widely used by both sides.

The people of Beja, who live in an area between the mountains and the Red Sea coast, have tended to have a contentious relationship with those in power over the past few decades – often feel ignored and left out.

These communities are also often at odds with each other, but generally support General Burhan – although they resent the rising cost of living in Port Sudan as so many people flee the capital, Khartoum.

According to Reuters, the RSF controls eight of Sudan’s 18 state capitals, including Khartoum, and is expanding further into the southeast of the country.

The group, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, accepted the US invitation to attend peace talks shortly after they were proposed last week.