Sudanese Military Chief escapes drone attack at graduation ceremony

In a dramatic turn of events, General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, Sudan’s military leader, narrowly escaped a drone strike during an army graduation ceremony in eastern Sudan. The attack, which claimed five lives, underscores the ongoing turmoil in the country since the 2019 uprising that ousted long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir.

The incident occurred in Gebeit as the ceremony concluded, with two drones targeting the gathering. Videos circulating online captured the chaos that ensued, showing people fleeing and looking skyward as the attack unfolded. Remarkably, footage later emerged of a smiling Burhan surrounded by cheering supporters, seemingly unfazed by the assassination attempt.

In his first reaction after escaping the assassination attempt, General al-Burhan was reported as saying “We will continue the war as long as the enemy is in the homes of civilians and as long as they surround the cities”. “We will not surrender, we will not negotiate and we are not afraid of drones,” he reportedly said.

This attack comes against the backdrop of a bitter conflict between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group. The fighting has forced the military leadership to operate primarily from eastern Sudan, near the Red Sea coast.

The timing of the attack is significant, coinciding with recent developments in peace negotiations. The RSF leader had expressed intentions to participate in U.S. and Saudi Arabia-brokered ceasefire talks in Switzerland. However, the military-controlled government has set conditions for these negotiations, insisting on the implementation of the Jeddah Declaration as a prerequisite.

The conflict has spawned a humanitarian crisis of staggering proportions, with over 10 million people displaced since April 2023. As the country grapples with this turmoil, the assassination attempt on Burhan adds another layer of complexity to Sudan’s already fragile political landscape.