Darfur groups to form new joint force without those backing Sudanese army

March 31, 2024 (EL FASHER)—The Sudan Liberation Movement-Transitional Council (SLM-TC) and the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces (GSLF) are planning to form a new joint force in Darfur in response to the fracturing of the existing joint force.

This new force will exclude movements that have sided with the Sudanese army in the ongoing conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Nimr Abdel-Rahman, a leading figure in the SLM-TC, told Sudan Tribune: “The new force will incorporate the GSLF led by Al-Tahir Hajar, the Sudanese Alliance led by Hafez Abdel-Nabi, and our own SLM-TC under Al-Hadi Idris.”

He underscored that this 2,500-strong force aims to protect civilians, deliver humanitarian aid, and facilitate communication between warring parties to ensure the force’s safe movement.

The SLM-TC’s decision follows their withdrawal from the existing joint force formed by signatories of the Juba Peace Agreement. They accuse other factions of harbouring a breakaway group that joined the Sudanese army. This move, they claim, violates the spirit of the Juba agreement.

Abdel-Rahman also revealed plans to consult with the holdout SLM led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur, known for its neutrality in the conflict, regarding their potential inclusion in the new force.

The formation of this separate force stems from the positions of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW) led by Gibril Ibrahim and Minni Minawi, respectively. Their decision to support the army against the RSF disrupted the original joint force’s mission and hindered its ability to protect civilians and facilitate aid deliveries.

The new force, Abdel-Rahman stressed, remains committed to neutrality and will not support any party in the military conflict.

(ST)