Conflicting reports about the missing Sudanese general
December 17, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – The enforced disappearance of a senior general in the Sudanese army last week in Khartoum constituted a new mystery added to a series of complex cases of abduction and detention in the country where spread parallel security services.
Where is Shukort Allah?
The family of retired Major General Ahmed Abdel-Rahim Shukort Allah reported his disappearance to the police saying he has been missing d since Friday, December 9, 2022.
On the 12th of December, the Jabra police station in Khartoum issued a missing alert seen by Sudan Tribune regarding his involuntary disappearance.
Before to retired, Shukort Allah was a military commander for the Blue Nile region and the Armored Corps. He is one of the intelligence officers who established the notorious Border Guard Forces that committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. At the time, he worked with the current commander-in-chief of the Sudanese army Lt Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Shukort Allah has a good relationship with the tribal leader and former commander of the Border Guard Forces Musa Hilal.
Triangle’s mysterious Forces
The disappearance of the former general came following reports confirmed by multiple sources about the presence of armed men in the border triangle area between Sudan, Central Africa and Chad since three months ago.
Some sources claim that this force is affiliated with the former general of the Border Guard Forces.
The newly formed force consists of former members of the Border Guard and splinters from the Tamazuj Movement, which is close to Military Intelligence, or from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
In January 2022, the RSF announced the closure of the border with Central Africa, for security reasons without further details. At the time, the RSF said that the closure was decided in coordination with the Central African Republic (CAR) and Chad.
Sources close to the matter told Sudan Tribune that the unidentified forces camp in a dense forest of the triangle area.
Also, there are reports saying that this military presence is annoying the Russians who are allied with the RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Hemetti, and threatening their interests in the CAR.
An RSF officer told Sudan Tribune that these forces are supports an armed group opposed to the ruling government in Bangui.
He adds that the force is led by a well-known Central African military commander from the “Salamat” tribe.
For their part, two other sources in the West Darfur State capital, El Geneina, refuted allegations that this force is under the command of Gen Shukort Allah. They, also, denied that a foreign aircraft recently bombed the position of this force.
They assert that the area is completely isolated as no one can reach it anymore.
Further, they claim that the Russian private military contractor Wagner has a base not far from the area where this force is based in the triangle.
Another source said that the Wagner group, which supports the regime of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, carries out intelligence operations on the border to monitor the activities of the opposition groups with direct support from Moscow and the RSF commander.
He went further to assert that this force actually is closely linked with the Wagner group to protect the government of President Touadéra.
Meanwhile, journalist Mohi Eddin Zakaria who is an expert on West Darfur issues pointed out that there are many unconfirmed reports in El Geneina about the identity of this force and who stands behind it.
“There is no accurate information about this force,” he added pointing to the conflicting reports about the force. But no one denies its exitance.
Hemetti abducted him
On December 14, MonteCarro, a Sudanese news website, reported that Shukort Allah who paid a visit to Musa Hilal on December 9, has been arrested by Hemetti.
The missing general was accused of establishing an armed movement on the border with Central Africa.
This armed group is “believed to be planning to carry out military action in favour of one of the actors to the conflict in Central Africa Republic, which is witnessing fierce French-Russian competition,” added the online news site.
The military government in Khartoum keeps silent over these allegations. Also, security agencies did not issue a statement about Shukort Allah’s disappearance.
(ST)