Army begins restructuring supporting forces, Al-Baraa battalion calls move catastrophic
December 10, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – The Sudanese army leadership has begun enumerating and classifying allied fighting groups to prepare for their integration into the military, a move the Al-Baraa bin Malik battalion rejected as “catastrophic”, demanding the army chief of staff be sacked.
Military sources told Sudan Tribune the measures implement a mid-August decision by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to subject all supporting forces to the Armed Forces Act and place them under a unified command, particularly in the Darfur and Kordofan regions.
The sources said the military leadership started the headcount two months ago, disbanding and reconstituting several mobile units comprised of political groups supporting the army.
They attributed the procedures to field developments following events in El Fasher and Babanusa, denying U.S. pressure or truce conditions were behind the move. The sources described the steps as “natural and routine” amid ongoing battles.
In response, leaked military documents attributed to the leadership of the Al-Baraa bin Malik battalion, a prominent Islamist faction fighting alongside the army, revealed deep rifts over what it called a “field classification” imposed by the General Staff.
A memo dated Dec. 9, addressed to the acting secretary-general of the Islamic Movement, said that restricting the battalion’s independence would have “catastrophic” consequences for national security. It cited field “setbacks,” including the fall of areas in West Kordofan and the disruption of vital supply lines in Heglig.
The battalion leadership described the process as a “political classification” based on accusations of foreign links, which it said weakened morale. The memo warned that continuing these measures could lead to the collapse of the remaining Sudanese states and the national project.
Documents signed by battalion commander Al-Misbah Abu Zaid Talha recommended dismissing the chief of staff and his deputies or subjecting them to investigation, calling for alternative military leadership characterized by “courage.”
The memo demanded the removal of restrictions to allow the battalion to resume its role as “shock troops” on advanced frontlines, warning political leaders that delays could waste the “last chance to save what remains of the country.”
Forces supporting the army include formations linked to the former National Congress Party regime and the Islamic Movement, such as the Al-Baraa, Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous, Al-Nukhba, and Al-Naba Al-Yaqeen battalions, as well as other units such as “Special Operations” and “Lions of the Den.”