Darfur holdout groups arrive in El-Fasher to protect civilians from RSF attacks
November 24, 2023 (EL FASHER) – In an unprecedented convergence of armed groups, two holdout groups have arrived in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, to join forces with the pace groups and Sudanese army in protecting civilians from any attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Youssef Karjola, Chief of Staff of the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid Nur (SLM-AW), and Abdallah Banda, head of the Sudanese Justice and Equality Forces (SJEF), arrived in El Fasher on Friday at the head of large military contingents.
The move comes amid heightened tensions in the region, as the RSF paramilitary forces have amassed troops outside El Fasher in preparation for a possible attack. El Fasher is the only major city in North Darfur that is not under RSF control.
Karjola was welcomed by several leaders of the joint forces affiliated with the Juba Peace Agreement signatories, including Sudanese Army Lieutenant Colonel Al-Sadiq Al-Fakka. Al-Fakka is a former SLM-AW member who defected and signed a peace agreement with the North Darfur government in 2017, subsequently receiving the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Sudanese army.
In response to the RSF’s threat, three armed groups that are signatories to the Juba Peace Agreement have also bolstered their military presence in El Fasher. These groups led by Minnin Minnawi, Gibril Ibrahim and Mustafa Tambour have pledged to work with the Sudanese army to repel any attack on the city.
The arrival of Karjola and Banda marks the first time since the SLM split in 2004 that a large number of armed groups have come together to defend civilians in Darfur.
This show of unity of Darfur armed groups, despite their past differences, underscores the shared goal of protecting civilians from the RSF’s brutal tactics. A military source in El Fasher, referring to the impending confrontation, has termed it the “Dignity battle.”
“Coordination efforts have been made to ensure Karjola’s presence in El Fasher, putting aside old differences, to join his comrades in protecting civilians,” emphasized the sources.
The SLM-AW, a holdout faction that has refused negotiations with the transitional government, maintains control over significant areas in Jebel Marra, spanning South and Central Darfur.
In a separate development, SJEF leader Abdallah Banda, an individual wanted by the International Criminal Court, arrived in El Fasher at the helm of a substantial military force originating from Libya. Despite not being a signatory to the peace agreement, Banda has expressed his support for the Sudanese army in its struggle against the RSF.
On November 16, the SLM faction led by Minni Arko Minawi and the Justice and Equality Movement, led by Gibril Ibrahim, also announced their participation in military operations alongside the Sudanese army to protect civilians. While Tambour’s group has joined the army for several months.
However, the SLM-Transitional Council, headed by Al-Hadi Idris, and the head of the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces, al-Tahir Hajer, have maintained a neutral stance towards the conflict, refraining from aligning with any of the warring parties.
(ST)