The call by the governor of Darfur region to bear arms threatens to engulf Sudan in the vortex of internal strife
In a development that threatens to plunge the country into an endless cycle of fighting, Minni Arko Minnawi, the governor of Darfur, has called on Darfuris to take up arms to protect themselves and their property as the country’s war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues unabated.
On his Twitter account, Minnawi wrote: I call upon all our dear citizens, young and old Darfuris, men and women, to take up arms to protect their property. He explained that attacks on citizens have multiplied and many do not want the safety and rights of citizens and intentionally destroy national institutions. We, the struggle movements, will support them in all cases of defense.
In May 2021, SLM leader Minnawi was appointed governor of Darfur, and is among the signatories of a historic 2020 peace agreement with the transitional government formed after the 2019 overthrow of Omar al-Bashir’s regime.
A region suffering from the scourge of conflict
Arms are widespread in Darfur, and inter-communal violence is rife due to conflict over land and resources, though the conflict has declined in recent years.
“Most recently, many Beja marched this month demanding that the army arm civilians to support them in ongoing battles, raising fears of similar tribal movements loyal to General Mohammed Hamdan Daglo (Hemeti), the commander of the Rapid Support Forces, who has strong ties with many of them and played a crucial role in calming tribal tensions and disputes.”
“Rift Valley Institute Sudan analyst Magdi Jazouli recently warned of the danger of arming the Sudanese, saying: “This will be the result of the continuation of the war and it could become one of the most perilous features of life.”
A Bloody War Between Army and Support
Since its start on 15 April, the conflict between the army led by Abdul Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo has resulted in hundreds of deaths, more than a million people internally displaced and more than 300,000 people fleeing to neighboring countries.
Factories, offices, homes, and banks in Khartoum were also damaged or looted. The Sudanese capital is frequently hit by power, water and communications cuts, severe shortages of medicines and medical equipment as well as running out of food supplies.
According to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) website, the death toll since the outbreak of the battles has reached 1,800 people, with the majority of them falling in the capital and in the city of Geneina, the capital of West Darfur.
Washington and Riyadh called on the warring parties to continue discussions to extend the ceasefire in order to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid needed by the Sudanese people, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
