Burhan Rejects Bahrain Mediation Reports, Vows to Eliminate RSF

KHARTOUM, May 29, 2026 - Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Thursday firmly denied reports alleging that consultations had taken place in Bahrain regarding possible dialogue between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates, dismissing claims published by Middle East Eye as entirely false.

Speaking during an Eid al-Adha address to military commanders at the General Command headquarters in Khartoum, Burhan said there had been no discussions in Bahrain and rejected suggestions of indirect mediation efforts involving Abu Dhabi.

“What Middle East Eye reported is completely untrue,” Burhan stated. “The talk of consultations in Bahrain has no basis in truth whatsoever.”

The remarks marked Burhan’s first direct public response to a report published last week claiming that he had expressed conditional openness to talks with the UAE, provided Emirati support for the Rapid Support Forces ceased. The report also suggested that Bahrain was attempting to facilitate contacts between Khartoum and Abu Dhabi.

Burhan’s Gulf tour earlier this month included visits to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Bahrain, although Sudanese authorities only officially announced his meeting with Bahrain’s king. The Sovereignty Council’s media office had previously issued an indirect rebuttal to the report, stating that Burhan had not recently spoken to any media outlet.

In a strongly worded speech, Burhan reiterated the Sudanese military’s determination to continue the war against the RSF, pledging the complete dismantling of the paramilitary force.

“There will be no RSF militia in Sudan, no Janjaweed from this day on, and no room for any rebel in our country,” he declared.

The Sudanese army chief said military operations were progressing steadily and promised that government forces would eventually retake Darfur “city by city.” He also praised allied armed factions, mobilized fighters, and popular resistance groups supporting the army’s campaign.