Sudan's Military Leader Survives Drone Strike Amid Ongoing Conflict

Sudan's Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan escaped unhurt from a drone attack during a military graduation in Gebeit, which killed five people. The attack highlights the ongoing conflict between Sudan's military and the Rapid Support Forces, following the ousting of Omar al-Bashir in 2019.

In a dramatic turn of events, Sudan's military chief, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, survived a drone attack on Wednesday during an army graduation ceremony in Gebeit, eastern Sudan. The strike, which resulted in five casualties, marks a violent continuation of the strife that began with the 2019 uprising that unseated long-time leader Omar al-Bashir.

The incident took place after the ceremony had concluded. According to Lt. Col. Hassan Ibrahim from the military spokesman's office, Burhan was unharmed. Al Araby TV videos depicted chaos as people ran along a dusty road during the attack and later gathered around Burhan, who appeared unscathed.

These events underscore the ongoing conflict between Sudan’s military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF, formed from Janjaweed fighters loyal to the ousted al-Bashir, is yet to comment on the assassination attempt. Meanwhile, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry reacted to a US invite for peace talks in Geneva, asserting that any negotiation must follow the Jeddah Declaration's objectives.