Hadi Idriss blames Minnawi and Jibril for security deterioration in North Darfur
SLM-TC leader is neutral in the ongoing conflict
Sudan War Monitor
The leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement – Transitional Council (SLM-TC), Hadi Idris, has blamed Darfur armed movements that have sided with the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in its war against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for breakdown of security in North Darfur State. He specifically highlighted the threat to El Fasher, which has remained relatively peaceful since the outbreak of war.
At the start of the conflict in April 2023, armed movements signatory to the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement preferred to be neutral, uniting under the Joint Force of Armed Struggle Movements (JSAMF), primarily stationed in El Fasher, the sole Darfur territory retaining a Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) presence. However, in November of the same year, Minni Minnawi, leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), and Jibril Ibrahim, head of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), declared their departure from this stance in a press conference held in Port Sudan.
Citing alleged RSF actions including “crimes against humanity and blatant violations of human rights,” Minni and Jibril declared their support for the SAF against the RSF. Despite the announcement, field commanders of the two movements continued to maintain neutrality and relationships with their RSF counterparts in Darfur.
But early this month, those field commanders who are mostly the commanders of the JSAMF, announced hostilities against the RSF aligning with SAF in the conflict. They cited alleged attacks against civilians, as well as “provocations and insults” by RSF commanders, as their reasons.
Hadi, who is also the interim chair of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF), stated that the armed movements have done their best to maintain security in Darfur. However, he believes that Minnawi and Jibril’s groups undermined these efforts by aligning with the SAF, making previous discussions about armed movements taking control of El Fasher's security no longer feasible.
“The one who sabotaged these efforts [to maintain peace and security] are the [armed] movements who have aligned themselves with the army, specifically the Sudan Liberation Movement faction under the leadership of [Minni] Minnawi, and the Justice and Equality Movement, as well as the rest of the groups aligned with the army. [This includes] those who think that this conflict can be ended militarily in favor of one side,” he said during an interview with Al Jazeera on Saturday.
“Also, the thinking that El-Fasher should be under the armed movements has become an unlikely scenario given that the armed movements are divided between those supporting the idea of alignment with the army and those who see they are still in the position of neutrality, as is the situation for us and for the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces under Tahir Hajar.”
Following the declaration of war by Minnawi and Jibril’s field commanders, Hadi’s group and the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces (GSLF), led by Tahir Hajar, quickly reaffirmed their neutrality. However, some field commanders from both groups have aligned with the SAF, citing RSF attacks on civilians.
Hadi admitted that some of members of his group, SLM-TC, have aligned with SAF but emphasized this was done on an individual basis, not as commanders leading troops. He was referring to a group of defectors led by Gen. Salah Rasas. Hadi reiterated their commitment to neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
“At some point, we have some leaders who aligned with the army and are now in the army, but as individuals. They are in the 6th Infantry Division. They are in El Fasher. But the [SLM-TC] military leadership with its well-known command remains aligned with the leadership position of the movement, [affirming] that we shall never align with any party to the conflict. We believe that with this neutrality we can be able to play a role,” Hadi said.
“What have those who have aligned with the army delivered to the people of Darfur? I was in Darfur for three months and most of the people who have aligned with the army are not in Darfur, but are in Port Sudan, and are in Kassala. Even the recruitment and training is conducted outside Darfur and they have left the residents of Darfur to the parties to the conflict, whether the RSF or the army. I will return to Darfur. I cannot move if I am aligned with one side of the conflict. If I align with the army, the RSF cannot cooperate with me, because the RSF is in control, a very large control in Darfur. The neutrality [of the armed movement] was sabotaged because the armed movements who aligned with the army forced the RSF to stop dealing with the movements and now El Fasher is besieged from all directions,” he added.
SLM/A-MM shuts down offices in areas controlled by RSF
In another development, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army faction under Minnawi announced in a statement that it has decided to shut down its offices in areas controlled by the paramilitary RSF until further notice. The statement did not provide a specific reason beyond “the recent developments and current circumstances taking place in the country”.
“…… and based on the assessment of the security and political conditions in the areas under the control of the Rapid Support Forces and based on the directives of the Assistant Chairman of the Sudan Liberation Army Movement for Administration and Organization, it has been decided to freeze all political, organizational and media activities and temporarily close the offices of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army in areas controlled by support.”
Minnawi’s group has its support base in the Darfur region. Following the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement, thousands of young men enlisted in the group, hoping to be integrated into SAF as provided for under the 2020 peace deal. Due to the outbreak of war, recruits who lacked sufficient training time and those who joined following the outbreak of war received training in eastern Sudan’s Kassala State.
These newly graduated groups now form a significant part of SLM and JEM troops taking part in the ongoing fighting in Al Jazira state alongside SAF. A substantial portion of their forces are also attacking Khartoum from the north through Al Bahri, also known as Khartoum North, together with SAF.
