The Eastern Orta is the Joint Forces’ Alternative

Sudanese experts confirmed that the “Eastern Orta” militia, which announced its establishment yesterday, Tuesday, in eastern Sudan, represents an alternative plan for Al-Burhan to confront the Joint Force affiliated with the Armed Darfur Movements, after disagreements occurred between both sides as a result of the latter demanding its share of power and wealth.

Suddenly, a new militia known as the “Eastern Orta” emerged, as it announced the deployment of its forces in eastern Sudan in coordination with the Army, after receiving its training in camps inside the neighboring State of Eritrea.

The new militia deployed its forces in Kassala state, which is located next to Al-Jazeera state in Central Sudan, and borders Eritrea on the eastern side of the country. Press reports indicated that the “Eastern Orta” militia is one of four militias that received military training in camps in Eritrea, which raises concerns in regards to the entry of new armed groups into the bloody conflict in the absence of any solutions on the horizon.

Call to Exercise Prudence

Saleh Ammar, spokesman for the Civil Forces Alliance in Eastern Sudan, stated that the Armed Movements in eastern Sudan are divided into two types: the first is the creation of the Military Intelligence of the Sudanese Army, and the second arose as a result of the developments of the war, which led to the emergence of armed militias, due to the feeling of insecurity invoked in some people by the constant changes taking place in areas of conflict.

Ammar confirmed, in a statement to the “Erem News” website, that these armed groups appeared on the border with Eritrea, noting that the majority of these militias are still present in that area. He added: “We call on them to continue abiding by their position of neutrality and refrain from participating in the war; because the East has nothing to do with the ongoing conflict between the Army and the Rapid Support Forces, nor does it benefit from it, but is rather harmed by this war, having no interest in siding with any of the parties.”

Ammar stressed that “There is no reason for the people of the East to die in futile wars, while they have suffered for long periods from injustice, poverty, deteriorating conditions, and all forms of marginalization by the State,” as he mentioned. Ammar pointed out: “Iam addressing the leaders of these Movements in eastern Sudan, asking them to be patient and not to drag the people of the region into conflicts that don’t benefit them.”

An Alternative to the Joint Force

Security analyst Adel Bashir believes that the so-called “Eastern Orta Forces” are a new militia that emerged from within the Sudanese Armed Forces, similar to the previous militias that were established by the Military Intelligence to fight on its behalf.

Bashir told “Erem News” that this new militia has been prepared and trained by the Sudanese Army’s Military Intelligence in camps inside Eritrea and others on the eastern border for more than a year, as part of a plan aimed at establishing militias, which is a historical characteristic of the Sudanese Army.

He added that “The announcement of the deployment of these forces in eastern Sudan at this time is linked to the differences that have begun to appear between the Sudanese Army and the Armed Movements of Darfur. It also indicates that Al-Burhan has prepared the new militia as an alternative to the Joint Force of the Armed Movements that have increased their demands in recent days.”

Bashir predicted that Al-Burhan would give this new militia the opportunity to carry out fabricated harassment acts against the Armed Movements forces deployed in eastern Sudan, with the aim of pressuring them to leave the region or forcing them to implement the Sudanese Army’s plan without any demands in return. The Armed Movements allied with the Sudanese Army presented a set of demands to obtain their share of power and wealth in exchange for continuing to fight alongside the Sudanese Army.

A journalist close to Sudanese Military circles, Rashan Oshi, published what she claimed was information from a document entitled “Minutes of a Meeting” that took place several weeks ago at the home of Dr. Gibril Ibrahim, the Minister of Finance and head of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), where the leaders of the Armed Movements who signed the “Juba” Peace Agreement and cooperated with the Sudanese Army met.

She explained that the meeting discussed the importance of pressuring the leaders of the Sudanese Army to redistribute the shares of transitional authority, and grant the Armed Movements (50%) of the government, especially in the Ministries of; Foreign Affairs, Interior, Finance and Minerals, in addition to the positions of Prime Minister and First Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, on the pretext that their forces are fighting in the field.

Journalist Oshi explained that another meeting was held two months ago, in which the leaders of the Movements participated alongside their field leaders, where they expressed demands that must be met to Al-Burhan, underscoring the necessity of continuing the fighting or returning to their previous position of neutrality. The demands also included granting these Movements military equipment.

Erem News