SLM-AW adopts own flag and anthem in controlled areas

January 4, 2026 (TAWILA) – The Sudan Liberation Movement-Abdel Wahid (SLM-AW) has replaced Sudan’s national flag and anthem with its own symbols in territory it controls, a spokesperson said on Sunday, arguing the national emblems reflect an imposed ideology.

Mohamed Abdel Rahman al-Nayer told Sudan Tribune the group had swapped the Sudanese flag and anthem in schools under its authority in Central and North Darfur, saying the national symbols were “imposed by force” and represented “elitist projects and rejected unilateral ideologies.”

“The movement has a revolutionary flag and anthem that express its political project and its long struggle to establish a homeland based on equal citizenship,” al-Nayer said.

SLM-AW, whose fighters are mainly from the Fur ethnic group, controls parts of Central Darfur, including the localities of Nertiti, Golo and Rokero. Since the conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted in April 2023, the group has expanded into North Darfur’s Tawila area.

Local sources said the rebel group has ordered schools in its areas of control to abandon the traditional morning flag-raising ceremony and instead use SLM-AW symbols. The movement resumed educational services in Jebel Marra and Tawila in October after halting them due to insecurity, its civil administration said.

Sudan’s national anthem and flag are fixtures in state schools across the country, where students salute the flag each morning.

SLM-AW leader Abdel Wahid al-Nur has rejected peace deals signed by other rebel factions and has not joined either side in the current war.