When Abdel-Fattah al Burhan answered the first time, his voice was lighthearted.
My first question – “are you safe?” I was told “Thank God, we’re all well and safe”.
Since the long-time military leader Omar al Bashir was ousted in 2019 after protracted protests for democracy, the commander-in chief has been Sudan’s “de facto” president.
He says that he is and speaking from the Presidential Guest House in the Military Command Compound, which was Mr Bashir’s former home.
The army has retaken the RSF-attacked military headquarters in a series of videos.
Mr Burhan said that he could move freely from his home to his office in the compound.
He said that only a few shells are being fired as the violence escalates in commercial and residential areas nearby. The army is trying to avoid civilian casualties.
Both parties agreed on a UN-proposed safe passage for humanitarians, but heavy fighting continued.
Read on: Why violence has broken out in Sudan
Images showing the impact of violent clashes
The air force continued to bomb RSF bases throughout the night. The death toll is steadily increasing and the civilians are trapped in their homes and mosques. Schools, universities, and colleges.
How did we get to this place? “How did we get here?”
The general went into technical detail and pointed out unauthorised RSF mobilizations in Khartoum. He claimed that 40,000 to 50,000 troops, which included tribal militiamen and other soldiers, had entered the capital. They then attacked a makeshift military base located in a stadium south of Khartoum.
Hemedti Dagalo’s opponent, and former partner, RSF chief General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo insists the army was the one to start it. This is just one of the many social media posts the group has made.
Both factions are engaged in a battle not only on the streets, but also online. RSF videos showing airfields that they claim to possess are quickly followed by counter-videos featuring RSF officers who defected to join the army.
Mr Burhan declared territorial control at the beginning of our conversation.
All RSF bases are under the control and supervision of the Armed Forces. “All the airfields are under control of the army,” he said.
Sky News reported that sources on the ground at Merowe in northern Sudan where RSF mobilizations were unauthorised said the RSF soldiers were on the airfield, but they are surrounded by soldiers from the army. Sky News was told by another source that the RSF controls Nyala Airport in southern Darfur, with ongoing battles to take territory.
Can the two generals get back to the table for negotiations?
The answer of Mr Burhan was subtly ambiguous. He replied that he’d go back to negotiate for the sake the country, but added “even if it is surrender there is still negotiations”.
International mediation is currently a distant prospect.
Would the army chief accept neighbouring presidents’ offers to fly in for mediation? He says no.
“The current conditions do not allow their presence.” “There are still conflicts between the groups and the airport is threatened – it is not the right climate for them to arrive,” he said.
Civil war is the climate. There are millions of trapped civilians who await news of a peaceful solution that may never arrive.
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