Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
Commander-in-Chief, Sudanese Armed Forces; Chairman, Transitional Sovereignty Council
"Sudan's army will emerge victorious. There is no alternative to victory."
Biography
A career military officer with no charisma but considerable political cunning, al-Burhan rose through Sudan's army under Omar al-Bashir and participated in the 2019 coup that removed him. He and RSF commander Hemedti jointly toppled the civilian transitional government in October 2021, intending to rule together. That partnership shattered in April 2023 over the terms of RSF integration into the armed forces. A dispute between two generals about who would subordinate their forces to the other — each knowing what they would lose — ignited a war that has devastated the country.
Did you know?
He is one of the few current heads of state who overthrew two governments (2019 and 2021) and then found himself fighting a war against his own former co-conspirator.
Key Battles
Battle of Khartoum
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) victoryApril 15, 2023 – Present · 20,000 total casualties
Khartoum had not seen urban warfare since the 1885 Siege of Khartoum during the Mahdist War. The eruption of fighting in the capital of an African country of 45 million people — with direct implications for the entire region — was one of 2023's most significant geopolitical events. The international community's inability to stop the fighting or protect civilians reflected the limits of post-Cold War conflict resolution architecture.
SAF Northern Counteroffensive
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) victorySeptember 2024 – Present · 8,000 total casualties
The counteroffensive demonstrated the SAF's resilience and external support networks, but failed to decisively change the strategic balance. It also drew Sudan into global arms supply chains — Iran's drone exports reaching both Ukraine's enemies and now Sudan — revealing the conflict's connections to the broader global arms economy.
Life Journey
Timeline
1960
🌅 Birth
Born in Northern Kordofan, Sudan
1980s
📍 Posting
Military career begins, Khartoum
October 25, 2021
⚔️ Battle
Leads coup against civilian government, Khartoum
2023–Present
📍 Posting
Commands SAF from Port Sudan (wartime capital)