JEM faces internal rift as leaders engage with RSF commander

July 17, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) is confronted with an internal crisis as three senior members are found to have secretly held a meeting with the Second Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Abdel Rahim Daglo.

JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim refuted claims in a statement last week, denying any meeting with Daglo in the Chadian capital during a recent trip to N’djamena. He affirmed that his sole meeting was with Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby on July 8.

While JEM asserts its neutrality in the war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary forces, reports have resurfaced suggesting that Daglo had met with JEM leadership members in Chad. The purpose of the meeting was reportedly to discuss the RSF’s political future within the ongoing efforts to end the war, hold an inclusive dialogue, and explore possibilities for cooperation between the two armed groups.

In response to these reports, JEM indirectly acknowledged the meeting by issuing a second statement, on Sunday stating that the leadership members who met the RSF second-in-command in N’djamena acted in their personal capacity without any mandate from the group.

On Monday, a prominent JEM leader disclosed to the Sudan Tribune that the movement’s leader intends to take punitive measures against the senior officials who secretly met with Daglo in Chad.

“Gibril Ibrahim plans to impose severe penalties on the leaders who clandestinely met Daglo in N’Djamena,” said the senior official, who is not authorized to speak to the media.

The official revealed that Ibrahim personally spoke with JEM’s political secretary, Suleiman Sandal, and its chief negotiator and peace implementation secretary, Ahmed Tugud, to inquire about the reasons behind their meeting with the RSF second-in-command.

The source emphasized that the unauthorized meeting has angered the JEM leadership, particularly as it contradicts the movement’s stance of neutrality in the conflict between the army and the paramilitary forces.

“These leaders have chosen a path that contradicts the movement’s vision. Ongoing meetings are being held with them to clarify their positions, and strict sanctions are expected to be imposed against them in the coming days,” the source stated.

Last week, the leaders of the Darfur groups that signed the Juba peace agreement held discussions with the Chadian president to address the urgent need for protecting civilians in Darfur and stemming the flow of refugees to Chad.

In light of the reported killing of hundreds of civilians in West and Central Darfur states by the RSF and allied militiamen, the signatory groups also convened in N’djamena and agreed to strengthen the joint force.

Following the outbreak of war, the Darfur armed groups formed a joint force to safeguard civilians, but its role has remained limited to the North Darfur capital. The force is mainly escorting humanitarian and commercial convoys to or  in the western Sudan region.