Sudan’s military leader, Gen Abdel-Fattah Burhan, escaped unharmed from a drone attack on Wednesday during an army graduation ceremony in the country’s eastern region, the military reported.

The attack, which claimed five lives, adds another storm to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has been in turmoil since the 2019 ousting of longtime leader Omar al-Bashir. According to the military, two drones struck in the town of Gebeit shortly after the ceremony concluded.

Lt. Col. Hassan Ibrahim, a military spokesperson, confirmed that Burhan was uninjured. Al Araby TV posted videos showing people running on a dusty road during the drone strike, while other footage captured attendees at the ceremony looking skyward as the drones hit.

A video on the Sudanese Armed Forces’ Facebook page showed Burhan surrounded by a cheering crowd after the attack, smiling as they gathered around him. The post read, “A spontaneous popular gathering of the people of the Gebeit region with the President of the Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief following the graduation of a new batch of officers.”

Sudan has been embroiled in conflict for over a year between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group. While fighting rages in the capital, Khartoum, the military leadership operates mainly from eastern Sudan near the Red Sea Coast.

The RSF has not yet commented on the assassination attempt. This incident comes nearly a week after the RSF leader announced plans to attend cease-fire talks in Switzerland next month, arranged by the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, head of the RSF, stated that the upcoming talks would be a significant step toward peace and stability in Sudan, aiming to create a new state based on justice, equality, and federal rule.

In response to the U.S. invitation to the Geneva talks, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry expressed readiness to participate but emphasized that any negotiations must adhere to the Jeddah Declaration’s objectives. The Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect Civilians, passed last year, aimed to end the conflict, but both sides have failed to fully commit to its terms.

Representatives from the Sudanese Army and the RSF, led by Dagalo, have engaged in renewed talks brokered by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. These discussions focus on delivering humanitarian aid, achieving ceasefires, and moving towards a permanent cessation of hostilities.

In its statement, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry accused the RSF of targeting cities, villages, and civilians, calling for sanctions against the rebels to end their aggression and siege on cities. The ministry also insisted that the military-led government be consulted on the agenda and participants for any future negotiations, with the Jeddah Declaration serving as the foundation for these talks.

Cameron Hudson, former chief of staff to the special envoy to Sudan, noted that the military government’s response was unexpectedly positive and open, indicating a willingness for preliminary talks with the U.S.

The RSF originated from Janjaweed fighters formed under former President Omar al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan for three decades before being overthrown in 2019. Al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide and other crimes during the Darfur conflict in the 2000s.

The conflict has displaced over 4.6 million people, according to the U.N. migration agency, with more than 3.6 million fleeing to safer areas within Sudan and over one million crossing into neighboring countries. Over 285,300 people have sought refuge in Egypt.

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