A Legacy Forged in Uniform

Born in 1960 in Gandatu, Sudan, al-Burhan trained in military academies across Sudan, Egypt, and Jordan. His ascent through Sudan’s armed forces occurred under al-Bashir, where he played roles in controversial campaigns in Darfur, collaborating with Janjaweed militias later rebranded as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). By 2015, he was overseeing Sudanese troops in Yemen’s war, reinforcing his ties with Gulf powers.

His loyalty was rewarded: in 2018, he became Chief of Staff of the Sudanese Armed Forces. When al-Bashir was overthrown in April 2019, al-Burhan assumed leadership of the Transitional Military Council, bypassing figures deemed too close to the deposed regime.

The 2021 Coup: A Democratic Betrayal

Al-Burhan’s credibility among revolutionaries eroded with the October 25, 2021 coup. He dissolved the fragile civilian-led government, arrested Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and reinstated a military-dominated Sovereignty Council. More than 117 protesters were killed in the ensuing crackdowns; hundreds were tortured or forcibly disappeared.

The international community reacted with alarm. The U.S., EU, African Union, and United Nations condemned the coup. Yet, al-Burhan pressed on, invoking the need for “stability” while silencing democratic aspirations.

War With the RSF: From Partner to Foe

The conflict reached new depths on April 15, 2023, when tensions with RSF commander Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) erupted into open warfare. Once allies, their fallout transformed Khartoum and other cities into war zones. More than 150,000 people have been killed, and over 14 million displaced — the largest displacement crisis in the world.

In Darfur, ethnic cleansing reminiscent of the early 2000s resurfaced. In Ardamata alone, over 800 were killed in November 2023. Human rights watchdogs now accuse Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), under al-Burhan’s command, of systematic war crimes.

Militias, Islamists, and the Return of the Old Guard

Despite denying formal membership in the National Congress Party (NCP), al-Burhan’s career mirrors the Islamist agenda it promoted. He has reportedly held meetings with Sudanese Islamic Movement (SIM) figures, including controversial cleric Ali Karti. These ties raise fears of a quiet Islamist resurgence.

Observers note his continued reliance on militias, a hallmark of Bashir-era control. The 2019 Khartoum Massacre — in which RSF forces killed and raped civilians at a peaceful sit-in — remains a scar on his record.

A Region on Edge

Sudan’s collapse under al-Burhan has spilled across borders. Nearly 3 million refugees have fled to Chad, Ethiopia, and South Sudan, overwhelming aid systems. Al-Burhan’s accusations at the 2024 UN General Assembly that neighboring states back the RSF reveal just how volatile the region has become.

With foreign actors now suspected of arming factions, the war risks morphing into a proxy conflict, jeopardizing Red Sea trade routes and regional security alliances.

Economic Freefall and Gold Politics

The economic toll is equally dire. Sudan’s GDP is projected to shrink by 18.3% in 2024, following a 12% decline in 2023. Schools, hospitals, and infrastructure lie in ruins. Al-Burhan’s alliance with Russia, which involves gold exports helping fund Moscow’s war in Ukraine, has drawn harsh international scrutiny.

A Narrative in Conflict

Al-Burhan presents himself as Sudan’s last line of defense. In global forums, he brands the RSF a terrorist entity and champions the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement. But this narrative is undercut by his own record of authoritarianism, war crimes, and suppression of dissent.

In January 2025, the U.S. imposed targeted sanctions on al-Burhan and top SAF officials, citing civilian deaths and obstruction of humanitarian access. To many, he now embodies the military’s enduring grip on Sudanese politics.

Comparative Lens: Cairo, Tripoli, and Sanaa

Analysts liken al-Burhan to Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who also rose via coup and curbed democratic movements. Yet, while el-Sisi embodies secular autocracy, al-Burhan blends military control with Islamist undercurrents.

Sudan’s conflict resembles Yemen’s civil war in its foreign entanglements, but differs in its ethnic dimensions and the scale of urban warfare. Unlike Libya, where factions are fragmented, Sudan’s war pits two organized, well-armed forces in a duel with national consequences.

Three Futures for Sudan

1. Militarized Entrenchment: Al-Burhan consolidates power, extends the war, and deepens authoritarianism — akin to Syria’s prolonged crisis.
2. Negotiated Transition: International diplomacy forces a return to civilian rule. Success would echo Tunisia, but depends on strong external pressure.
3. Full-Scale Regional War: Escalation through foreign involvement leads to a Yemen-like disaster, destabilizing the Horn of Africa.

Conclusion: The Weight of a Legacy

Al-Burhan’s Sudan is not the fulfillment of a father’s dream but the realization of a nation’s nightmare. Through coups, repression, and war, he has fractured Sudan’s path to democracy and unleashed chaos across borders. As famine looms and conflict rages, the world faces a question with rising urgency: Can Sudan be saved from the legacy of its generals?

Impact Snapshot:

Key Highlights:

• • General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan halted Sudan’s democratic transition with his 2021 coup.
• • His rule, rooted in Sudan’s Islamist past and military hierarchy, sparked civil war and mass displacement.
• • Al-Burhan faces mounting international criticism for human rights abuses, war crimes, and obstructing humanitarian aid.

• Sudan’s future teeters between further militarization, potential negotiations, and catastrophic regional