19/1/2023: Africa Confidential - History won't repeat itself

Africa Confidential (AC) report that the commander-in-chief of Sudan’s army, Abdulfattah al-Burhan, is at “loggerheads with the Islamists he helped…regain their jobs in the state apparatus after the 2021 [coup],” although his public anti-Islamist stance aims to secure the confidence of Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia alongside “[winning] points with western governments who control most of the aid taps.”

Al-Burhan’s support for the ex-ruling National Congress Party (NCP) after the coup “led to the risk of him being overthrown by party militants in league with other Islamist factions”.

With the Sudanese army remaining a “stronghold” for Islamist militants after the coup, AC suggest that the Islamists view al-Burhan as “betraying the Islamist project”. To reassert his control, AC raise the prospect of al-Burhan arresting ex-NCP minister Ali Karti.