Popular Resistance of Sudan

The conflict in Sudan is primarily a power struggle between two factions within the country's military structure. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group led by Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo, are battling for control of the state and its resources. It was founded to crush the rebellion in Darfur due to the political and economic marginalisation of the local population by Sudan's central government. The RSF, known for widespread atrocities, has a stronghold in Darfur, with many recruits drawn from the region. After the ousting of Omar al-Bashir in 2019, attempts to transition to a democratic civilian-led government faltered. A coup in October 2021 put the army back in charge, leading to weekly protests, renewed isolation, and deepening economic woes. This led to an eventual showdown between Burhan and Hemedti. == Formation and role ==

In June 2023, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Commander-in-Chief of the SAF, initiated a mass mobilisation dubbed the Popular Resistance, This led to the training of numerous young men across various cities. the country's second-largest and home to a major agricultural project. The RSF's takeover was marked by severe atrocities, which were well-documented by civil society groups and protesters. The RSF also threatened to expand their control to other states. In response to the growing threat from the RSF, many Sudanese civilians, encouraged by the military, armed themselves. The military also promised to arm more civilians associated with the popular resistance, despite lacking a formal leadership structure. Government officials started participating in resistance activities, and state media, controlled by the military, gave them widespread coverage. For example, Muhammad al-Badawi, Governor of the River Nile State, and Major General Muhammad al-Amin pledged that they would provide training and weapons for civilians to take arms. In addition, in February 2024, Al-Hafiz Bakhit Mohammed, the acting governor of North Darfur State, has declared the start of a popular resistance in El-Fasher. This resistance aims to back the SAF and its allied movements in their fight against the RSF. The Popular Resistance is also active in Al-Qadarif State, Sennar State, Red Sea State, and Khartoum State. On 30 March 2024, a founding conference was held in Port Sudan under the auspices of the Sudanese government to form the Supreme Council of Popular Resistance, chaired by Muhammad al-Amin Turk and deputed by Lieutenant General Khader al-Mubarak Ali. Azhari al-Mubarak Muhammad was unanimously chosen as Head of the Popular Resistance. However, most of the Popular Resistance factions operate separately with no formal structure. According to Ammar Hassan, the spokesperson for the Popular Resistance, the Popular Resistance fought alongside the SAF in all battles, including those in Omdurman, the Sudanese Radio and TV Corporation, and Kordofan. They have shown resilience in Babanusa, West Kordofan, and readiness in Sennar, Al-Gaziera, Al-Fau, Managil, and other regions. == Known factions ==

Several cities in the north are witnessing the formation of popular resistance groups. The Khartoum State government recently announced the start of the Supreme Committee for Popular Resistance's activities and opened recruitment and arming in army-controlled areas. However, an anonymous army officer stated that these groups are mainly responsible for securing neighbourhoods and sites, and not for combat operations. Contrarily, a member of the popular resistance confirmed his participation in combat operations. Pro-revolution faction Other groups, such as the Popular Security group and the youth group Angry Without Borders, have also joined the army forces. The latter, known for its resistance against the military junta, has members in various army units and camps. Their involvement with the army traces back to the 1990s when they were part of the Popular Defence Forces (PDF), a paramilitary group closely linked to the Hassan al-Turabi's National Islamic Front (later the National Congress Party) and Omar al-Bashir. The PDF, which fought against the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) in the second Sudanese civil war, has been operating covertly since Bashir's removal until the war in Sudan broke out on 15 April 2023. During the war in Sudan, a reorganised PDF under Emir Kafi Tayara fought alongside the Army in South Kordofan against the SPLM-N and the Rapid Support Forces. Al-Bara' ibn Malik Battalion The Al-Bara' ibn Malik Battalion has been actively fighting alongside the SAF in their ongoing battles against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the war started on 15 April 2023, suffering many casualties in various locations. The group, led by Almusbah Abuzaid, promotes a militant Islamist ideology. Abuzaid, who was injured in the fighting in Khartoum, was visited by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Commander-in-Chief of the SAF, at a hospital in Atbara. Videos on social media show Abuzaid chanting militant slogans and advocating for a "jihad" against the RSF. Another leader, Anas Omer, was a notable member of the now-disbanded National Congress Party (NCP) under President al-Bashir, and was taken into custody by the RSF on 16 May 2023. Resilience The Resilience () faction released a video on 18 September 2023 featuring masked and unidentified armed individuals unveiling a foundational manifesto, "Statement Number 1", outlining the group's mission and goals. The manifesto, addressed to the people of Sudan, starts with a Quranic verses, then enumerates the alleged offences of the RSF. It pledges to free Khartoum from RSF "mercenaries" and cleanse the city of their presence. Other Islamist factions The Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous () battalion, a large former unit of the disbanded Popular Defense Forces, is now fighting with the Sudanese army. This battalion includes ex-members of the National Intelligence and Security Service from the Bashir regime era. The battalion has undergone advanced weapons training and is currently deployed in several capital cities. Other groups According to Al Jazeera Arabic, preparations are underway to announce a new battalion, Al-Matmoura (), in Gedaref state, along with other groups in different localities. These groups are being trained and armed under the supervision of local government authorities and military leadership. == Women role ==

Women have been mainly at the forefront of the non-armed and humanitarian response to the war. These groups also provide support to affected families, offer shelter to the displaced, facilitate the evacuation of those trapped in Khartoum, and provide medical services. Women's groups like the Women Against War network and the 'Mothers of Sudan' campaign have been working at different levels to end the war. They document violations, monitor the situation, advocate for peace, and exert pressure on the international community and other parties to support a resolution and achieve peace. Nonetheless, Sky News reported on combat training camps for women in Port Sudan. The women in the camp call themselves the Black Army due to the colour of their Jilbāb, and they are led by Alia Hassan Abuna, a leader in the Forces of Freedom and Change. The women are trained mostly for self-defence and community patrols. Another training camp in River Nile State (named Al-Sarirah Makki camp) and North Kordofan were also reported. == Critiques ==

Lack of formal structure, proliferation of weapons, and civil war The Popular Resistance's lack of a formal leadership structure has raised concerns about its ability to manage and coordinate its activities effectively. Data from official sources indicate that prior to the war's onset, civilians possessed eight million firearms. These weapons have contributed to lethal assaults by diverse communities, spanning from Darfur and Kordofan to the Blue Nile area. Fears of ethnically motivated outbreak of a civil war are also increasing. The opposition politicians abroad, namely Taqaddum, rejected calls for mobilisation and stood against the establishment of the Popular Resistance, declaring that these calls would inflame military conflict at a time when they themselves were adopting dialogue under the slogan "No to war." They said that this call to arm citizens could ignite a civil war in the country. Concerns about growth and political exploitation According to the International Center for Strategic Studies (ICSS), which is funded and situated in the United Arab Emirates, the Popular Resistance is influenced by jihadist and ethnic ideologies which led to arrests and eliminations of individuals from western Sudan, who are seen as supporters of the RSF. For example, the governors of the Nile River, the North, and North Kordofan have taken steps to dissolve the Sudanese resistance committees and target activists. The ICSS preserves this as a strategy for Islamists to regain power. According to Ihsan Al-Faqih writing for the Middle East Monitor, opponents – including Taqaddum On 29 March, amid criticism over Islamist, like ex-members of the Popular Defence Forces, participation with the army, SAF Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Shams al-Din Kabbashi, warned against political exploitation of the Popular Resistance groups' activities. Khabbashi stressed that factions like Al-Bara' ibn Malik Battalion "need to be better controlled." He stressed the need for regulations to control these groups and prevent them from becoming a future threat. In response, Lieutenant General Yasser al-Atta advocated for a structured popular resistance, with units collaborating with the army and police, and committees for humanitarian aid and services. The RSF is yet to claim responsibility of the attack that happened away from its nearest camp. In addition, according to Areej Elhag writing for The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, there are concern that the Popular Resistance could transform into a powerful militia akin to the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces. There also fears of repeating the scenario that led to forming the RSF itself. Islamic extremism In June 2023, at the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, the commander of RSF, Hemedti, alleged that the army was being assisted in their fight by the Islamic State (IS) and supporters of the al-Bashir regime. In a development in May, the RSF detained a number of individuals, among them Mohamed Ali Al-Jazouli, a well-known supporter of IS, who had previously pledged to fight the RSF. The SAF denied these allegation. Children conscription Sky News Arabia reported on the conscription of hundreds of children between the age of 12 and 14 at a military camp near Shendi, River Nile State. == Notes ==