Between Deception and Failure: How the Sudanese Army Manufactures Illusory Victories

In times of war, words can sometimes prove more dangerous than bullets. This is exactly what the Sudanese army is doing today: turning the media into a parallel front and producing victories on paper rather than achieving them on the battlefield.

An impartial observer does not need much effort to realize that the official discourse of the Sudanese army has become deeply entrenched in fabrication and exaggeration. Every routine maneuver is portrayed as a “major operation,” every limited skirmish presented as a “strategic victory,” while reality speaks otherwise.

Illusion instead of truth

The military institution is fully aware that it is suffering losses and setbacks on the ground. But instead of admitting these difficulties and searching for solutions, it opts for media escapism. Its official statements are saturated with rhetoric of power, bravery, and victory, while facts on the ground expose fragility and limited resilience. This behavior does not express self-confidence; it reflects a crisis of trust that is being covered up with media noise.

Propaganda as a temporary painkiller

It is clear that the army’s rhetoric is not only directed outward but primarily inward. Boosting the morale of its supporters has become a priority, especially after repeated retreats on several fronts. Yet does this change the reality? Absolutely not. On the contrary, it widens the gap between what is said and what is lived. The public eventually uncovers the deception, further eroding trust in an institution that was supposed to serve as the “shield of the nation.”

The consequences of this approach

In the short term, such propaganda may create a temporary state of mobilization. But in the long term, the results are disastrous:

• The institution loses credibility domestically. 
• Its image weakens internationally in the eyes of the global community. 
• The reality on the battlefield repeatedly exposes it, making it appear as if it is living in a parallel world. 

What is required

Instead of persisting in the illusion of victories, the army must face reality with courage. Acknowledging losses is not a sign of weakness; it is the first step toward correcting the path. Continuing to rely on disinformation will only deepen the rift between the military and society, turning media from a tool of enlightenment into an instrument of escapism.

Today, the Sudanese army is not only fighting battles on the ground; it is also waging a war of narratives. Unfortunately, it has chosen the path of deception, convinced that doctored images and exaggerated statements could replace real achievements. Yet truth remains stronger than any propaganda, and time will inevitably expose the fragility of fabricated victories.