WAD MADANI: The speedy advancement of Sudanese paramilitaries, particularly the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has triggered a surge in calls for civilians to bear arms, heightening concerns that the ongoing eight-month conflict between rival factions may escalate into a full-blown civil war.
The RSF, in their push against the army, have seized significant portions of Sudan’s southern Al-Jazira state, including the capital Wad Madani. They are now extending their advance further south into Sennar state. Reports of alleged abuses by RSF fighters have prompted groups of civilians to advocate for “armed popular resistance” across several Sudanese states, including White Nile, River Nile, Gedaref, North, Kassala, and Red Sea.
In response, the RSF has ordered inhabitants of areas under its control to provide volunteers who will be armed to “protect their territory.” The conflict, started on April 15, involves clashes between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
The violence has taken a heavy toll, with a conservative estimate by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project putting the death toll at more than 12,000 people. The United Nations reports that at least 7.1 million people have been displaced, including 1.5 million who fled to neighboring countries.
Growing Conflict in Sudan
Amid growing tension, civilians in various regions are expressing their readiness to take up arms. State governor Mohammed Badawi declared plans to train young people in weapons use to defend their lands. A Beja tribal leader in Suakin announced their readiness to arm against the RSF for victory.
There are reports that the RSF has already distributed weapons in some areas, heightening fears of the conflict expanding beyond military ranks. The Small Arms Survey project notes that 6.6 percent of Sudan’s 48 million people possess weapons, and concerns are particularly acute in regions like Darfur, which has a history of violent conflict.
The proliferation of arms raises fears of a wider and more protracted conflict. A Sudanese security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, called the calls to arm civilians “disastrous” and warned that they could worsen the existing proliferation of weapons.
Sudan’s main civilian alliance, the Forces for Freedom and Change, urged both parties to end the conflict instead of encouraging citizens to join armed resistance. A government agency estimated that by the end of 2022, “five million weapons were in the hands of civilians,” excluding rebel groups in various states.
