GSLF leader accuses Sudanese military of seeking to fuel ethnic conflict in El-Fasher
June 1, 2024 (ADDIS ABAB) – Al-Tahir Hajer, Chairman of the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces (GSLF), revealed that his group has obtained intelligence indicating a plot by Sudanese Military Intelligence to escalate the ongoing conflict in El-Fasher into a tribal war.
The goal, Hajer claims, is to sow discord among various factions in the region, which has already seen intense clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since May 10.
On Thursday, Amnesty International urged the United Nations and the African Union to act “swiftly” to prevent mass atrocities in Al-Fashir, North Darfur, and ensure accountability for the perpetrators of violations.
Hajar told Sudan Tribune in the Ethiopian capital that the plan includes turning the conflict in Al-Fashir into a tribal feud between Arab tribes and the “Zaghawa” tribe.
He also disclosed that practical steps are being taken to form a joint force to maintain security in Darfur. Community groups will be responsible for its deployment to maintain security and deliver aid. He noted that this attribute enables these forces to operate in both army—and RSF-controlled areas.
He expects these forces to be formed this week after finalizing some arrangements on the ground. He mentioned contacts with the Sudan Liberation Army, led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur, and other willing movements, including those that sided with the army, to join the joint force.
These new joint forces will be parallel to the joint forces formed by the armed groups loyal to the Sudanese army. They will be composed mainly of the GSLF and SLM Transitional Council of al-Hadi Idris. The GSLF has split into two factions, one led by Abdallah Yahiya and the other headed by Hajer.
Hajer welcomed the Egyptian initiative announced by the government in Cairo to hold a consultative meeting of Sudanese political forces at the end of June.
He said, “We are convinced that the African Union, IGAD, and neighbouring countries can stop the war. We have not yet received an official invitation, but our condition for any gathering of Sudanese political forces is that Islamists should not be part of this initiative.”
The sacked member of the Sovereign Council called on both sides of the conflict to take responsibility and not blame others. He expressed his lack of confidence in the army, stating that it is not a national army representing the Sudanese people. He highlighted major disparities, as all officers are from one region, which he considers a significant flaw contributing to their heavy losses.
He added that the RSF leadership controls its forces, enabling them to stop the war if they ordered their soldiers to do so. In contrast, the army and its general commander lack the ability to make a decision to stop the war due to multiple decision-making centres within the army and the control of Islamists.
He continued, “The Islamists in the army refuse to engage in any dialogue and hijack the decision-making of the military institution, backed by their cadres who manage the situation.”
Hajer noted that the neutrality of some armed movements was the main reason for the crisis and war in Al-Fashir, confirming that his forces were stationed in the city as part of the joint force to the north and east of the Zamzam camp.
Hajar affirmed that if he wished to join the fighting with the RSF, he would announce it, but he does not believe in the war they were previously accused of entering.
He emphasized that those fighting with the army in the name of the Zaghawa tribe do not represent the tribe, stating that the tribe’s members oppose the war. He noted that the heavy presence of Islamists and remnants in El-Fasher after fleeing areas under RSF control and forming a support committee for the army was one of the tools of sedition.