Key Darfur groups join Sudanese army in its war against RSF paramilitary forces

November 16, 2023 (PORT SUDAN) – The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) led by Minni Minawi and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) have jointly announced their active involvement in military operations alongside the Sudanese army against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

During a press conference held in Port Sudan, the two movements, along with other factions supporting the army, conveyed in a press statement, “Due to the RSF’s actions, including crimes against humanity and numerous violations, we hereby abandon our neutrality. We vehemently condemn the militia’s transgressions and assert our resolute resistance against these behaviours.”

“In response to the RSF’s threat to Sudan’s unity and their repeated assaults on cities, villages, and defenceless civilians, resulting in fatalities and displacement, coupled with the present danger to humanitarian and commercial convoys through attempts to sever supply routes to various areas, we renounce any neutrality. We declare our active participation in military operations on all fronts without hesitation,” the joint statement added.

The armed groups emphasized their “unwavering commitment to the unity of Sudan, encompassing its land and people, and pledged to thwart any ongoing attempts to dismantle the country.”

The statement also appealed to Chad, urging it to cease its support for the RSF, and called on other regional nations supporting the paramilitary forces to refrain from blatant interference in Sudanese affairs.

It is pertinent to mention that there are reports indicating the transfer of weapons and military supplies from the UAE to the Rapid Support Forces through the Um Jaras airport in Chad, carried out under an understanding between the leaders of the two countries.

During the press conference, Minni Arko Minawi, the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM), and Gibril Ibrahim, the leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), addressed the media. Mustafa Tambour, the head of the SLM, who has been actively engaged in combat alongside the Sudanese army for several months, and Salah Hamid Al-Wali, the political secretary of the Gathering of the Sudan Liberation Forces, also spoke at the event.

Minawi explained that their initial declaration of neutrality in the conflict aimed to prevent the escalation of military confrontations in Sudan. He pointed to widespread violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in displacement camps, resulting in the increase of displaced individuals to approximately five million in the Darfur region.

Highlighting the goals of the ongoing war between the army and RSF, Minawi stated, “The division of Sudan was one of the objectives.” He noted that foreign entities distributed weapons and military equipment to certain factions, intending to spark a civil war in South Darfur.

Gibril Ibrahim, the leader of JEM, expressed that the Sudanese people had been anticipating the moment when they would align themselves with the army against the RSF. He clarified that their initial neutral stance aimed to mediate between the conflicting forces to bring an end to the hostilities. Ibrahim emphasized, “We did not anticipate that this war would target civilians and result in the looting of their property.”

He went on to explain that, faced with the failure of rebels to take control of Sudan through Khartoum, they shifted to Plan B, which involved dividing Sudan. Ibrahim referred to the RSF’s control over the states of Darfur as part of this plan.

Observers believe that the killing of a field commander of the SLM-MM in North Darfur on November 6, was one of the reasons that led Minnawi to shit his position in the ongoing conflict. The SLM-MM commander had confronted a looting operation by the paramilitary force in the Golo area, west of El Fasher.

The Darfur movements allege that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have exploited the ongoing conflict to expand their control over the Darfur region, using the pretext of fighting against the former regime. .

With the entry of two armed groups into the conflict, a forewarning of intense confrontations in significant areas of the Darfur region emerges.

Relative neutrality

While certain signatories, such as the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces (GSLF) led by Tahir Hajer and the SLM Transitional Council led by Hadi Idris, declare their commitment to neutrality in the conflict, there is a condition attached to this stance.

Aboud Khatir Adam, the deputy commander in chief of the GSLF, stated to Sudan Tribune that they will maintain their neutrality unless the RSF attacks civilians.

“We are committed to neutrality, provided there is no fighting in Al-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, and Al-Daein, the capital of East Darfur because that will lead to attacks on civilians. This is something we will not accept. Certainly, if they attack civilians, our neutrality will end then,” said Adam.

El-Fasher and Al-Daein currently shelter thousands of displaced people who have fled from the three states controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Also, it is crucial to note that the North Darfur State is home to the Zaghawa ethnic group, the primary composition of fighters from the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minawi (SLM-MM), Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), and Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces (GSLF).

Adam acknowledged that joint force military leaders held a meeting with the RSF in South Darfur to discuss the protection of civilians. However, he firmly denied reaching any agreement with the RSF, as claimed in a statement the paramilitary forces issued on Thursday morning.

“They asked us to form a joint force to protect civilians and assist them in fighting the army, but we declined this offer,” Adam stated.

Earlier, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the head of the Sovereign Council, decided to remove Al-Hadi Idris from his position in the Sovereignty Council and called on the Juba Peace Agreement signatories to nominate a replacement. In response, Idris rejected this decision, asserting that Al-Burhan lacked the legitimacy to dismiss him from his position.

(ST)