Did al-Burhan cut communications in Sudan to blackout the coup and its denial?
Djibouti leads continuous efforts to persuade al-Burhan to reverse his decision to suspend Sudan's membership in IGAD, affirming that its goal is to bring about peace
Sudan’s Sovereignty Council President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan denied the existence of a military coup in Sudan, saying, “Anyone who claims that is a liar and delusional,” in an attempt to contain the circulating news about signs of army disintegration, which could have serious implications for the course of battles, especially with the frequency of reports of defections, while sources said these reports were behind cutting communications in Sudan for the sixth day to blackout the circulating news about army disintegration.
Al-Burhan pledged before officers and soldiers of the “19th Infantry Division” of the Sudanese Army in El Dabaa city in the Northern State to “fight until victory for the dignity of this people and its armed forces,” according to a statement from the Sovereignty Council, adding, “Anyone who says there is a coup is a liar and delusional, and the entire army is united, and we are all together in ending this rebellion (referring to forces supporting the Rapid Support Forces).” Al-Burhan‘s denial of a coup attempt in the country comes days after local media reported, citing military sources, that “army intelligence arrested several active officers in the Wadi Seidna military area in Omdurman west of the capital Khartoum on charges of plotting a coup.”
Meanwhile, Yasser Al-Atta, Assistant Chief of Staff of the Sudanese Army, attempted to boost the morale of the army, which was affected by military losses and the attempted coup, by saying that the armed forces of his country are “all behind the army commander, and the regular security forces work behind the leadership as one man and according to an organized hierarchy.” Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces have been engaged in a war that has left more than 13,000 dead and over 8 million displaced and refugees, according to the United Nations.
Local sources have linked the circulation of rumors about the coup and the cutting of communications in the country as the army tries to conceal internal divisions.
Clementine Salami, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, pointed out that “the absence of communication services has affected the sending and receiving of money for millions of Sudanese. Salami added in a post on her “X” platform account on Saturday that “the continuous interruption of communications in Sudan restricts millions of people from sending and receiving money, at a time when they are in dire need of it.” She further stated, “The interruption of electricity also hampers critical humanitarian response activities and people’s access to life-saving information.”
The total cutoff of communication networks and the internet in Sudan has paralyzed the lives of millions and caused a paralysis in both the public and private sectors. Accusations have been leveled at both warring parties, the army and the Rapid Support Forces, while youth organizations and political entities have warned against using the communications sector in the military and political conflict. International efforts to bring both sides to the negotiating table have failed due to the stubbornness of army commander Abdul Fattah al-Burhan.
The Forces of Freedom and Change, in a statement on Saturday, accused the warring parties of “using vital communication services as a weapon of war,” calling on them to “stop partially or completely disrupting internet services, as this harms the interests of citizens,” while others pointed out that the army continued to employ the communications sector within the framework of the political and military conflict, as communication services were cut off in cities controlled by the Rapid Support Forces in Darfur, while being available in North Darfur State where the army is located, indicating that the decision to cut communications is in the hands of the army and security agencies.
Local residents confirm that the army cuts or jams communications during some battles to disrupt communication between Rapid Support Forces groups.
The Rapid Support Forces denied responsibility for the internet outage in a statement, stating that “the service was disrupted due to an aerial bombardment carried out by the Sudanese Air Force on the communications control center,” accusations denied by the army.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti), commander of the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, announced on Sunday that “his forces had achieved victories in Omdurman and Babanusa in West Kordofan State and are awaiting more victories in the coming days.”
Hemetti said in an audio recording, “The war in Sudan will end very soon in our favor,” indicating that his forces “agreed to peace for Sudan, but the other party chose war.”
As the situation escalates, the President of Djibouti, head of the IGAD, sent a special envoy to Port Sudan as part of ongoing efforts to persuade the Sudanese leadership to reconsider its decision to suspend its membership in the organization.
Sudan’s Sovereignty Council President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan received a handwritten letter from Djiboutian President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh on February 1st, delivered by a personal envoy to the Djiboutian president. A statement from the Sudanese government at the time said the letter addressed bilateral relations between the two countries.
In statements to the Chinese CGTN channel on Saturday, Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf revealed that the letter called on “the Sudanese leadership to reconsider its decision to suspend its membership in IGAD.”
Youssouf emphasized Djibouti’s steadfast commitment to regional stability and stressed the neutral role played by the international governmental organization in facilitating peace within Sudan.
Djibouti’s Foreign Minister said, “We are actively working on this matter. Sudan is a vital member of IGAD and a key player in the region. We need Sudan to remain in the organization. Therefore, Djibouti remains committed to dealing with Sudan.”
He emphasized IGAD’s neutrality, saying, “It is trying to help, and we have no agenda. We are trying to bring peace to Sudan.”
Sudan suspended its membership in the organization on January 20th last year in protest against its failure to respect Sudan’s decision to stop intervening in the country’s internal affairs, and its insistence on equating the Rapid Support Forces with the armed forces and recognizing the leader of the Rapid Support Forces as a protocol equivalent to a military commander, as they say.
IGAD leaders held a meeting on the Sudanese crisis on January 18th last year despite the Sudanese government’s boycott. Leaders of the African organization also met with the commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, and the leader of the civilian forces opposed to the war, former Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok.
