two armed groups from Darfur announce their joining the army of General al-Burhan

Published on : 11/17/2023 – 12:56

2 mins

With our correspondent in Nairobi, Gaëlle Laleix

On November 16, 2023, two armed groups from Darfur, a region in western Sudan, announced their joining the Sudanese army of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in the conflict which pits it against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (FSR) under the orders of General Mohamed Hamdan Dogolo known as “Hemedti”. The leaders of the Sudan Liberation Movement SLM, Minni Minawiand the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), announced this Thursday during a press conference in Port Sudan.

Until now, the armed groups in Darfur had maintained a certain neutrality. But the abuses committed by the RSF against civilians in Darfur were the last straw. In a joint press release, the SLM Minni Minawi and the JEM denounce “ crimes against humanity ” And ” declare their participation in military operations on all fronts “.

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For Jok Madut Jok, researcher at Syracuse University in the United States, this rallying could change the balance of power if other groups follow. “ Al-Burhan took with him, in his diplomatic visitsMinni Minawi, the leader of the SLMhe explains. This undoubtedly sent a message to Darfuris who are not of Arab affiliation and who saw the RSF massacre black communities “.

Rebel groups in Darfur are divided into numerous factions. The FSR announced yesterday, on their X account, that they had held a meeting with four of them. Which does not constitute a rally, specifies the deputy commander of the Rally of Sudan Liberation Forces, in the columns of Sudan Tribune. He recalls that “ fighting in El Fasher, North Darfur, and Al-Dein, East » are a red line that the FSR must not cross.

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