Burhan Denies Reaching Bilateral Settlement with Any Sudanese Party

Sudan's General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, answers questions during an interview, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, in New York. (AP)
Sudan's General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, answers questions during an interview, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, in New York. (AP)
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Burhan Denies Reaching Bilateral Settlement with Any Sudanese Party

Sudan's General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, answers questions during an interview, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, in New York. (AP)
Sudan's General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, answers questions during an interview, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, in New York. (AP)

Head of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council Lt. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan denied reports that he had concluded a bilateral political settlement with any political party in the country.

He told senior military officials on Sunday that the armed forces stand at the same distance from everyone and support the steps taken to achieve democratic transition.

Burhan hoped that the political forces would succeed in reaching national consensus that would help Sudan overcome the challenges it is currently facing and allow it to complete the transitional phase under a competent, independent, non-partisan government with the goal of holding elections.

According to a statement issued by the army spokesman's office, Burhan reviewed the current political situation with senior leaders and underlined the military’s keenness on ensuring stability and security throughout the country.

Meanwhile, the tripartite mechanism tasked with facilitating intra-Sudanese dialogue welcomed on Sunday the current momentum moving towards a solution to the political crisis. The solution should start with the formation of a credible civilian-led government to guide Sudan through the transition to democracy and peace.

The tripartite mechanism is composed of the United Nations, African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.

It described Burhan’s statements as encouraging, saying they reflect a desire to reach a political agreement with the civilian forces on transitional arrangements and guarantees for a more stable transitional period that leads to transparent and fair elections.

Mohamed Belaish, spokesman for the mechanism, said the military is responsible for engaging in good faith to hand over the executive authority to a credible civilian authority.

He stressed that all political and civil actors must prioritize Sudan's stability and ability to transition to democracy and achieve just peace.

The mechanism underscored the importance of the international community’s continued support during this critical phase and expressed readiness to facilitate military-civil talks to reach an inclusive and sustainable settlement.



Trump’s Return: Jubilation in Tel Aviv, Worries in Ramallah

A Palestinian in Bureij Camp asks Trump to end war on Gaza (AFP)
A Palestinian in Bureij Camp asks Trump to end war on Gaza (AFP)
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Trump’s Return: Jubilation in Tel Aviv, Worries in Ramallah

A Palestinian in Bureij Camp asks Trump to end war on Gaza (AFP)
A Palestinian in Bureij Camp asks Trump to end war on Gaza (AFP)

The excitement among Israel’s ruling coalition leaders over Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election matches the joy of his supporters in the US.
In contrast, the rest of the world, especially the Palestinians, remains cautious and worried, waiting to see how he will act.
Their only response is hope—hope that he might end wars and shift his known “hostile” policies.
Trump sent a clear message when he declared after his win, “I will not start wars, I will end them.” Both Palestinians and Israelis took note of this, each interpreting it through their own lens.
However, both sides must wait two months for Trump to take office and even longer to see how he will approach foreign policy.
In Israel, the ruling coalition is celebrating with the expectation that Trump will offer strong military, security, and political support—not just in their conflicts with Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza, but also in their broader goals, including ending the Palestinian dream of statehood, expelling them, and annexing the West Bank, Golan Heights, and possibly parts of Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was almost the first leader to congratulate Trump, followed by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
While Israelis eagerly await Trump’s arrival, Palestinian leaders in Ramallah are worried he won’t change his previous policies.
A research paper from a London-based monitoring center for political and strategic studies highlighted that Trump’s previous decisions harmed Palestinians, including moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing it as Israel’s capital, and cutting funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
These actions helped isolate the Palestinian Authority and weaken its political demands.
The paper expressed concerns that Trump might continue or intensify these policies, such as reducing international support for Palestinians or backing more settlement expansion.
For Palestinians, this could worsen political, economic, and humanitarian challenges.
Trump is also known for his strong stance against resistance factions.
After the death of Hamas leader Yehya Sinwar, Trump called it a crucial step toward regional stability.
For now, Palestinians are left waiting.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas congratulated Trump, saying he looks forward to working with him for peace and security in the region.