Burhan apologizes for army violence against medical staff amid ongoing war

Khartoum, May 2, 2026 - Sudan’s military ruler, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has issued an apology for violence committed by soldiers against medical personnel in hospitals, while also praising health workers for their role in providing information that aided the army’s advance in southern Khartoum.

In a statement from the Sovereignty Council, Burhan acknowledged “harshness” by individual soldiers toward medical staff and commended doctors and health workers for continuing to operate under difficult wartime conditions, as the healthcare system remains severely strained by years of conflict.

The remarks come against the backdrop of a collapsing health infrastructure, with thousands of medical personnel killed or injured and more than 2,000 health facilities destroyed since the outbreak of war in April 2023.

Burhan also claimed that intelligence provided by medical staff contributed to the army’s capture of parts of southern Khartoum, where government forces regained control in May 2025 after intense fighting with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). He denied that the military deliberately targets hospitals, while accusing the RSF of repeated attacks on healthcare facilities.

Humanitarian organizations, however, continue to document widespread assaults on medical infrastructure across the country, underscoring the severe toll the conflict has taken on civilians and essential services.