Sudan’s army has appointed a new chief of staff in what represents its most significant military reshuffle since the civil war with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted nearly three years ago. General Yasser al-Atta, a deputy to army chief and de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in the ruling Transitional Sovereignty Council, will head the new armed forces command, the army announced on Thursday.
Al-Atta replaces Mohamed Othman al-Hussein, who had held the post since 2019. The overhaul also brings in new deputies for administration, operations, training, supply, and military intelligence — a comprehensive restructuring at the top of Sudan’s armed forces during a conflict that has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 11 million people.
## A Veteran Officer with Strong Views
General al-Atta is no stranger to the inner workings of Sudan’s military establishment. With approximately 40 years of service, he is one of the most experienced officers in the force. But he is also one of its most politically visible figures — a prominent member of the Transitional Sovereignty Council formed after the overthrow of longtime president Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
Perhaps most notably, al-Atta has been an outspoken critic of the United Arab Emirates, which he has repeatedly accused of supporting the RSF — allegations Abu Dhabi firmly denies. His appointment signals a continuation of the army’s hardline stance toward external actors it holds responsible for fueling the conflict.
## Concerns Over Islamist Group Integration
Last month, al-Atta said the army would press ahead with integrating allied armed groups into the military to end militias and form a unified national force. But the announcement has raised significant concerns among analysts and international observers.
The US Treasury last month designated the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood, including the Sudanese Islamic Movement and its armed wing — the al-Baraa Ibn Malik Brigade — as a terrorist organisation, accusing it of receiving financial support from Iran. The brigade is among the groups that could be folded into the regular army under the integration plan.
Washington’s designations have added another layer of complexity to efforts to end Sudan’s war. Analysts say progress toward peace has been further complicated by Burhan’s reliance on Islamist networks that fear a peace deal would sideline them politically and militarily.
## Fighting Spreads to New Fronts
The leadership changes come as fighting spreads to new theatres. Southern Kordofan is now the most volatile front in the war, while intensified clashes in southeastern Blue Nile state have raised fears of a longer and increasingly fragmented conflict.
Near-daily drone attacks continue to disrupt daily life across multiple states, at times killing dozens of civilians in a single strike. On Thursday, the RSF was accused of targeting a hospital in the Al-Jabalain area of White Nile state, just east of Kordofan. The army-aligned health ministry said 10 medical and administrative staff, including the hospital’s director, were killed and 22 others wounded. The RSF denied responsibility, calling the accusations false.
Sudan’s civil war, now approaching its third anniversary, has created the world’s largest hunger crisis, according to international aid agencies. Efforts to broker a ceasefire, led by the United States, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt, have so far failed to bring either side to the table in any meaningful way.