Challenges mount for Darfur Joint Force after failure to protect civilians
August 19, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The official spokesperson for the joint force of Darfur armed groups, signatories of the Juba peace agreement, has revealed that their limited capabilities are hindering the deployment of troops across the region.
Following the start of confrontations between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15, the signatories to the peace agreement established a joint force tasked with protecting civilians and commercial convoys in Darfur, as well as those heading to the western Sudan region. They emphasized that they would not take side in the conflict within the military component.
However, this force has fallen short in ensuring the safety of civilians in significant Darfur locations including El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur, and now Nyala. The intense clashes that have erupted in South Darfur’s capital, raise doubts among the Darfur population about the force’s effectiveness, resources, and legitimacy.
In an interview with Sudan Tribune, Major Ahmed Hussein Mustafa, the head of the media committee for the joint force, stated on Saturday, “We have devised a plan to deploy forces across Darfur, but our limited capabilities and logistical support have prevented us from doing so.”
Mustafa emphasized that the joint force operates autonomously and does not receive any assistance from the government. However, he did not clarify whether the force receives compensation from Darfuri businessmen for escorting their commercial convoys.
He explained that the force’s efforts include securing the route connecting Kufra, Libya, to El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. This route is crucial for the transportation of food supplies, especially since numerous Sudanese factories have halted production due to destruction, suspension, or lack of resources.
The spokesperson also noted that the joint force is committed to protecting commercial convoys bound for major cities in Kordofan, as well as safeguarding international organization headquarters, including United Nations agencies, and certain markets in El Fasher.
The scope of the conflict between the army and the RSF has broadened across large areas of North, West, and South Darfur. Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, has been embroiled in ongoing clashes between the two factions for over a week.
Mustafa stated that while the joint force has a presence in Nyala, their numbers are insufficient. He added, “We are currently in the process of sending reinforcements to enhance their ability to protect citizens and their property.”
The joint force had previously expressed similar intentions when violence escalated in El-Geneina. However, discussions about deploying troops to protect civilians were suspended following the assassination of the West Darfur Governor by RSF elements.
The military spokesperson stressed that the joint force would not maintain neutrality if civilians faced violations. “Neutrality, in our view, does not mean siding with any of the conflicting parties, as this is a war devoid of purpose.”
Both local and international human rights organizations have reported numerous instances of war crimes and severe human rights abuses, including murder, enforced disappearances, sexual violence, and forced displacement.
Mustafa refuted claims of tribal bias within the Darfur movements, stating, “Our objectives are crystal clear: to establish a homeland that embraces all segments of the population, transcending tribal affiliations, languages, and cultures.”
The armed movements in Darfur are grappling with a complex predicament due to their current neutral stance amidst the ongoing conflict between the army and the RSF.
On one hand, these armed groups are under pressure to engage in the war to defend civilians, particularly since the RSF-backed Arab militias have targeted them. On the other hand, they fear that their sustained neutrality could lead to weakening their positions during future negotiations between the warring factions and the political groups. Several groups from the Darfur region are slammed by the pro-democracy Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) for their support of the October 25, 2021 coup.
Supporters of the Sudanese army from Darfur have recently initiated a social media campaign against the Darfur armed movements, asserting that the army is the sole defender of civilians.
(ST)