Another Darfur faction joins Sudanese army in fight against RSF
November 20, 2023 (PORT SUDAN) – Abdallah Yahya, Deputy Chairman of the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces (GSLF), headed by al-Taher Hajer announced his alignment with the Sudanese army in its fight against the Rapid Support Forces.
The split, at least over the ongoing war in Sudan, comes shortly after a decision to remove Hajer from his position as a member of the Sovereign Council on Monday.
“We declare that we are not neutral from now onwards on the violations of the Rapid Support Forces against civilians in Darfur and El-Obeid of North Kordofan,” stated Yahya, who is also the Minister of Urban Development, Roads and Bridges
He referred to the systematic attacks committed by the RSF against innocent people in conflict areas, especially in the Darfur region, saying that the liquidation of Khamis Abkar, the governor of West Darfur state and head of the Sudanese coalition, was a shameful incident, as he put it.
The statement confirmed the continuation of violations in Nyala and Zalingei, in addition to the assault on Al-Daein and the besiegement of El-Fasher and El-Obeid for several weeks, which led to the displacement and starvation of citizens.
Yahya renewed his condemnation of the violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, stressing that they are authorized under the Juba Peace Agreement to contribute to maintaining security and protecting citizens in Darfur.
On the 16th of November, the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Minni Arko Minawi, and the Justice and Equality Movement, headed by Gibril Ibrahim, announced they decided to join the Sudanese army operations in defence of civilians.
However, the next day, three leaders of the signatories groups, including GSLF leader Al-Tahir Hajer, reiterated their neutrality on the conflict.
The GSLF was established in July 2017 after the merger of three Darfur armed factions, including the Sudan Liberation Movement for Justice of Tahir Hajar, Sudan Liberation Movement-Unity of Abdallah Yahia and the Justice and Equality Movement led by Abdallah Bashr Gali (aka Gena).
At the time, the three groups were based in Libya where they took part in the civil war that erupted after the collapse of the Gaddafi regime.
Abdallah Banda Joins Sudanese Army
The Gathering of the Sudanese Justice and Equality Forces (GSJEF) led by Abdallah Banda has announced its decision to join the Sudanese army in its war against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The GSJEF’s statement, signed by Banda, declares that the group has renounced its neutrality and will stand with the army in the fight for Sudan’s unity. He also condemned the RSF’s violations, “Anti-national and anti-civilian practices, and war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity”.
Banda’s emergence is another sign of the return of Sudanese armed groups from Libya to Sudan. Previously, several factions from Darfur Arab groups rallied with the RSF, and their leaders appeared in Khartoum.
It is worthy to underscore that Banda was indicted by the International Criminal Court in 2009 for leading an attack in which 12 peacekeepers were killed in Haskanita, western Sudan.
(ST)