Sudanese General Al Burhan assumes direct military control over allied armed groups and Islamist forces.
Sudan's Military Chief Takes Control of Allied Militias Amid Ongoing Civil War
In a significant move aimed at curbing the power of allied militias and affirming the rule of law, Sudan's military chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan has ordered these groups, including Islamist groups, to come under the army's direct command.
The allied militias have been crucial to the army’s battlefield performance, compensating for a shortage of infantry, especially in battles in central Sudan and the capital Khartoum. However, their independent actions and links to Islamist groups have caused tensions within the military and concern among regional and international partners.
This restructuring also includes a reshuffle of top military leadership, with the retirement of some generals thought to have Islamist ties. Gen Al Burhan's decision is seen as an attempt to consolidate his overall control over the military and reduce factionalism.
The integration of militias under direct army command is also a message to both domestic and international actors about strengthening discipline and reducing abuses, which have marred military operations during the civil war. It is a strategic attempt to unify armed factions under a single authority, reduce factional violence and abuses, and create a more stable foundation for peace negotiations.
The army now controls Khartoum, as well as the eastern, central, and northern regions of Sudan, while the RSF holds the western Darfur region and parts of Kordofan to the south. Gen Al Burhan has vowed to continue fighting until the RSF is defeated.
The military announced the move to place the militias under the army's direct command on Sunday. Discussions during a meeting between Gen Al Burhan and US President Donald Trump's Africa adviser, Massad Boulos, last week in Switzerland reportedly included a US proposal for a nationwide ceasefire and the delivery of aid to 25 million people facing hunger in Sudan.
Some analysts believe that the decisions made by Gen Al Burhan may be a prelude to a shift in direction of some sort. The reshuffle of the leadership of the armed forces by Gen Al Burhan, including the forced retirement of senior generals, was driven by his political survival and consolidation of power.
The war in Sudan began in April 2023 between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, displaced more than 13 million people, and caused a humanitarian crisis. Gen Al Burhan's decision to place the militias under the rule of the military stops short of integrating the militias into the army but shows a clear intent to limit their capacity to commit acts that could prolong the conflict.
Al Shafie Ahmed contributed to this report from Kampala, Uganda. Gen Al Burhan, Sudan's de facto leader, is the military chief of Sudan. Gen Dagalo, an ally of Gen Al Burhan, may have travelled to Switzerland to meet Mr Boulos, but there has been no comment from the RSF. Gen Al Mansouri, who gained a hero's status among many Sudanese, has been pensioned off, a move that is seen as pre-emptive due to his popularity.
It is widely believed in Sudan that the Islamists have found in the war a possible path back to power after former president Omar Al Bashir, himself an Islamist, was removed in 2019. The reshuffle of the leadership of the armed forces by Gen Al Burhan took place on Monday.
[1] The New York Times [2] BBC News [3] Al Jazeera [5] The Guardian
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