Port Sudan – Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan arrived in Doha, Qatar on Thursday for talks with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in an effort to resolve Sudan’s ongoing civil war.
According to a statement from Sudan’s ruling sovereign council, Burhan and the Qatari Emir will discuss bilateral relations, issues of mutual interest, and ways to end the conflict situation in Sudan.
This visit marks Burhan’s third trip abroad since clashes erupted in April between Sudan’s army and affiliated paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. On Wednesday, Burhan issued a decree formally dissolving the Rapid Support Forces, citing their “rebellion against the state” and grave human rights violations committed against citizens.
After spending months besieged within the military headquarters in Khartoum, Burhan made his first foreign visits last month to Egypt and South Sudan. Both countries have sought to mobilize diplomatic efforts to end the fighting following the collapse of earlier ceasefire negotiations mediated by the US and Saudi Arabia.
Over the past five months, the civil war has led to at least 5,000 deaths and displaced over 4.8 million people from their homes, according to the United Nations. One million Sudanese have fled across borders as a result of the violence.
Burhan’s meeting with Qatar’s Emir is the latest attempt by regional allies to help resolve the ongoing conflict and alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis it has caused. Further discussions on bilateral cooperation and proposed solutions to restore stability in Sudan are expected during Burhan’s current visit to Doha.
