Has the Honeymoon Between General al-Burhan and Tel Aviv Come to an End؟ By Mahmoud Aldgm

12:24 PM August, 02 2025

Sudanese Online
محمود الدقم-
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In Sudan’s increasingly complex political landscape, an unspoken but extremely dangerous alliance is gradually taking shape. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the military leader who overthrew Sudan’s fragile civilian government in 2019, is now almost completely surrounded by forces of political Islam—chief among them the leadership of the dissolved National Congress Party and their allies from locally embedded jihadist militias. This alliance threatens not only Sudan's internal stability, but the security of the entire region.

Burhan had previously positioned himself as a reliable partner for the West and Tel Aviv, engaging in normalization initiatives under the so-called "Abraham Accords." Yet these moves have proven to be nothing more than tactical ploys aimed at securing international legitimacy in exchange for symbolic gestures—while real decision-making power slowly reverted to Islamist factions steeped in ideological hostility toward both Israel and the West.

In this context, any continued engagement by Tel Aviv or Western capitals with Burhan’s regime is a dangerous gamble. He is no longer a potential ally but rather a political and security umbrella for ideologically driven groups with documented ties to movements like Hamas and Hezbollah. Statements by National Congress leaders—most notably Ali Karti—boasting of past relationships with these groups are not mere historical anecdotes, but indicators of a volatile present.

The threat posed by this alliance is not confined to Sudan. With its strategic location on the Red Sea, Sudan could easily become a corridor for threats against Israeli or Western interests—whether through arms trafficking or the movement of jihadist operatives supported by local networks. Will Tel Aviv wait for this latent threat to manifest in a direct attack before reassessing its stance toward Burhan؟ Will the West continue its "strategic patience" until Sudan’s civic forces lose their last foothold؟

What is needed now is not further diplomatic appeasement of Burhan’s regime, but a clear, firm stance: isolating his government, cutting off political and indirect support, and empowering Sudan’s civilian democratic forces to shape a real transitional environment. Only through backing an independent, civilian-led democratic path can Sudan escape the grip of Islamist factions that threaten not just its unity, but regional security across borders.

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