Report from BBC News
By James Copnall & Danai Nesta Kupemba
Dated Friday, 17 November 2023 - here is a copy in full:
Sudan civil war: Darfur's Jem rebels join army fight against RSF
Two rebel groups from Sudan's Darfur region say they will fight alongside the army in the country's civil war.
This comes after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) made major gains in Darfur, where it has been accused of ethnic cleansing.
Rebel leader Gibril Ibrahim told BBC Newsday they "want to defend their civilians" from the RSF, which he says has been burying people alive.
He said the decision to join forces with the army was not an easy one.
The leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem) said it had taken seven months to come to an agreement.
The relationship between Jem and the Sudanese army is fraught. Mr Ibrahim's brother was killed by the army, who was previously the group's leader.
Jem and the Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM) took up arms in Darfur in 2003, accusing the government of marginalising the region's black African communities.
The government then mobilised Arab militias against them, leading to what has been described as the 21st Century's first genocide.
These militias have since transformed into the RSF, which has been fighting the army for control of the country since April.
The RSF has taken several key towns in Darfur in recent weeks, including the country's second biggest city, Nyala.
Last week, there were reports they had massacred hundreds of people in the West Darfur capital of El Geneina.
The RSF has denied responsibility for the killings, saying they were part of a "tribal conflict".
A joint statement from Jem and the SLM read: "We have announced ending any neutrality and joining the military operations at all frontlines without hesitation."
Jem and the SLM are not as strong as they used to be, but their entry into the Sudanese civil war is significant.
Both Darfuri rebel leaders signed a peace deal in 2020, and have since been closer to the Sudanese military than would once have seemed possible.
It is possible JEM and SLM will see their ranks swell with new recruits - increasing their importance on the Sudanese political scene.
In joining the fray now - after months of professed neutrality - they seek to defend their support base in Darfur, in particular the Zaghawa ethnic group both men come from.
They will also have concluded that an RSF victory would be disastrous for them, and Darfur.
Mr Ibrahim expressed concern at the RSF's advances, saying he feared Sudan would end up divided.
There are fears it could declare its own government in the impoverished war-torn western region.
The international dimension is significant too.
The Zaghawa are present in Chad as well as Sudan, and dominate Chadian politics. Mr Ibrahim and others have accused Chad of supporting the RSF.
He will be hoping that he can use his connections - including with Chad's leader Gen Mahamat Deby - to cut any ties between Chad and the RSF.
More on Sudan's conflict:
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Source: Radio Dabanga report Nov 17, 2023 - see here below.
Radio Dabanga - November 17, 2023
Darfur armed movements renounce neutrality in Sudan war
The Sudan Liberation Movement under leadership of Minni Arko Minawi (SLM-MM), and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Jibril Ibrahim, have announced their renunciation of the neutrality pledged in the September 2020 Juba Peace Agreement, and their preparedness “to participate in military operations on all fronts without hesitation”.
Full story: https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/armed-movements-renounce-neutrality-in-sudan-war
Sudan Tribune - November 15, 2023
Key Darfur groups join Sudanese army in its war against RSF paramilitary forces
The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) led by Minni Minawi and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) have jointly announced their active involvement in military operations alongside the Sudanese army against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Full story: https://sudantribune.com/article279446/
Sudan Watch - July 19, 2023
Chad's Deby met Sudan's Finance Minister JEM leader Ibrahim. JEM leaders secretly met RSF commander
Note, the leader of Darfur rebel group JEM, Gibril Ibrahim, is Sudan's Minister of Finance. He was appointed to the post by Sudanese Prime Minister Hamdok in a cabinet reshuffle 8 February 2021.
Full story: https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2023/07/chads-deby-met-sudans-finance-minister.html
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