As Sudan\u2019s hunger and displacement crisis deepens, Sudanese army Chief of Staff Yasser Al-Atta announced on Sunday that the Armed Forces intend to continue the war in Darfur and Kordofan until the end, despite the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in both regions.<\/p>\n
Speaking before troops in Khartoum, Al-Atta said that the destruction of electricity and water facilities and other infrastructure would not halt military operations. He denied targeting specific tribes or communities or seeking revenge. However, his remarks come amid mounting civilian casualties, raising concerns about the protection of the population during upcoming military operations.<\/p>\n
Al-Atta\u2019s statements reflect the continued reliance on a military solution after more than three years of fighting that has displaced millions, widened famine, and led to the collapse of essential services without bringing the war to an end.<\/p>\n
During the first three weeks of October, the United Nations Human Rights Office documented the deaths of 306 civilians and the injury of hundreds more in drone attacks attributed to both sides of the conflict. The attacks targeted homes, markets, hospitals, shelters, power stations, and water sources. The Office also attributed strikes on displacement sites in Ghubaysh and Al-Nuhud in West Kordofan to the army. The strikes, carried out between October 6 and 10, left dozens dead and injured, including women and children.<\/p>\n
These incidents have heightened concerns about continued military operations in Darfur and Kordofan, where large concentrations of displaced people and besieged cities are struggling with shortages of food and medical care. Attacks on infrastructure also threaten hospitals, dialysis centers, blood banks, water stations, and bakeries.<\/p>\n
According to an electricity sector engineer, Sudan\u2019s electricity generation may have fallen from approximately 4,400 megawatts before the war to around 1,100 megawatts, while 15 power stations have been targeted since the beginning of October. Medical authorities have warned of the consequences of power outages for medicines, vaccines, and patients who rely on medical equipment.<\/p>\n
Activist and writer Najm al-Din Drissa criticized Al-Atta\u2019s remarks, arguing that they encourage the continuation of the war rather than efforts to stop it and save the country. He accused the army leadership of targeting specific communities, pointing to the denial of identity documents to members of those communities both inside and outside Sudan. He described this as identity-based discrimination and persecution.<\/p>\n
The call to continue the war cannot be separated from the growing influence of armed Islamist groups within the army camp. International reports have discussed the Armed Forces\u2019 reliance on formations, most notably the Al-Baraa bin Malik Brigade, which has participated in military operations while retaining its organizational structure and resisting full integration into the military institution.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, the death of Mohammed Al-Nou, one of the brigade\u2019s prominent leaders, was announced following a drone attack attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The attack targeted the headquarters of the General Intelligence Service in the city of Al-Dabba in Sudan\u2019s Northern State. The presence of brigade leaders inside an official security facility has raised questions about the relationship between these formations, the army, and the institutions of the Port Sudan authorities.<\/p>\n
Previous international investigations indicate that the Islamist movement, which was removed from power after the 2019 revolution, continues to support the army with fighters and organizational networks. Some of its leaders have also spoken about returning to political life after the war.<\/p>\n
Critics argue that continued fighting gives Islamist groups an opportunity to strengthen their presence within state institutions and expand their armed influence, turning the war into a means of reshaping power rather than merely a military confrontation.<\/p>\n
After years of fighting, the challenge is no longer limited to retaking cities and roads; it also concerns what remains of the Sudanese state. Under this view, a military victory cannot rebuild the country if it comes at the cost of destroying cities, starving the population, and depriving people of essential services.<\/p>\n
While the army leadership speaks of continuing military operations, civilians continue to pay the price of the war with their lives, security, and future. At a time when the interests of forces seeking a return to power intersect with the continuation of the fighting, questions are mounting over who benefits from prolonging the conflict.<\/p>\n
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