Factional Divide in Sudan: Hardline Voices Near Al-Burhan Reject Ceasefire Efforts, Threatening the "International Quartet" Initiative

The circle surrounding the Commander of the Sudanese Army, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, is witnessing a significant surge in voices that categorically reject efforts to halt the war and actively support the continuation of military operations. This hardline stance was recently articulated in a new escalation by Jibril Ibrahim, the Finance Minister in Al-Burhan's government, who asserted that the Sudanese Army "will work to regain control of Al-Fasher city, and all cities and villages controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)."

During his visit to a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Al-Fasher, Ibrahim announced that the "Sudanese Army will move soon" towards the city. He stressed in his statements that "there is currently no truce and no negotiation," adding that "it is necessary to repay twofold, and after that, we can talk about a truce," in his words.

These statements clearly resonate with the positions expressed by Lieutenant General Yasser Al-Atta, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Army, who is a prominent figure in the camp advocating for the war's continuation. Al-Atta has openly rejected the "International Quartet" initiative for a ceasefire, a group comprising the United States, Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Circulating video clips show Al-Atta addressing the International Quartet in a manner deemed "irresponsible," particularly towards regional states that have exerted considerable efforts to assist the Sudanese people.

However, the strong terminology used by both Ibrahim and Al-Atta exposes the depth of the divisions plaguing the Sudanese Army's ranks, pointing to the grave indicator of multiple, contradictory centers of power within the government. While one faction insists on continuing the war, the Security and Defense Council—the highest political and military body in the country—had previously announced its welcome of initiatives aimed at ending the war and the suffering of the Sudanese.

This fragmentation and contradiction in political direction raise serious fears that any diplomatic proposals or approaches, such such as those for establishing a humanitarian truce in Sudan put forward by the International Quartet, could be thwarted. Al-Atta, described as the "hardline general," is excessive in his rigid positions and calls for "military decisive action," which observers view as an attempt to "consolidate his field and political influence within the Army."

In parallel, the Muslim Brotherhood faction stands allied with the Army, opposing any attempts to stop the war that erupted in April 2023, as the continuation of the conflict is seen as a guarantee of this movement's survival and control. Consequently, the factions led by Al-Atta and the Brotherhood, and those who share their views, strongly reject the Quartet Initiative. This palpable disunity among military and political decision-makers unveils a hidden struggle within the military establishment, fueled by the Brotherhood and other forces opposed to a ceasefire.