War Criminals as Part of the Port Sudan Authority… Al Burhan faces a new crisis
In a development that will certainly invoke serious and complex repercussions, press reports revealed that the new Port Sudan Authority, headed by Kamel Idris, who is expected to be sworn in tomorrow, Thursday, will include militia “leaders” accused of committing war crimes in their ministerial team, which is expected to be officially announced next month.
Amongst the names Idris intends to include in his ministerial team is Abuagla Keikal, the leader of the “Sudan Shield” militia, in addition to a leader whose name has yet to be revealed. However, supposedly the latter will be a member of “Al-Baraa Ibn Malik” militia, affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. Furthermore, he will be directly nominated by Yasser Al-Atta, the Assistant to the Sudanese Army Commander-in-Chief, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan.
Abuagla Keikal is considered one of Sudan’s “warlords,” a description Human Rights Watch (HRW) cited last February when it highlighted horrific massacres committed by the militia he leads. As members of the so-called “Sudan Shield Force” carried out the summary executions of (26 individuals), amongst whom were children, in the village of Kambo Taiba in Al-Jazeera state, one of dozens of massacres documented by human rights organizations.
As for “Al-Baraa Ibn Malik” militia, its leaders are accused of documented war crimes. The Brotherhood militia, led by AlmusbahAbuzaid Talha, has a horrific history of violations throughout the ongoing Sudanese war, in addition, its brutal methods are strikingly similar to those of (ISIS), a fact cemented after reports revealed an organizational connection between the two groups.
Observers believe that the inclusion of war criminals in the Port Sudan Authority is an extremely dangerous step, through which Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan aims to -supposedly- “civilize” the military entities. The appointment of “warlords” also threatens to intimidate the activities, which began months ago in an attempt to “oppose” the Port Sudan Authority.
Security forces affiliated with the Port Sudan Authority have launched a systematic campaign against activists and media professionals, including widespread arrests and assassinations targeting individuals who participated in the revolution against the regime of ousted President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir. They expressed their rejection of the continuation of the war and demanded the return of civilian rule. According to observers, the promotion of war criminals to government positions is a clear indication of a more severe phase of repression.
Sudanese political circles can’t seem to rule out the possibility that the latest development -to appoint war criminals to the new authority- represents a clear challenge to the Administration of US President Donald Trump and a direct response to the recent US sanctions imposed on leaders of the Port Sudan forces, following evidence of their use of internationally prohibited chemical weapons during the ongoing conflict. The intended appointments could also be considered confirmation of Al-Burhan’s “despair” of any possibility of mending relations with Washington.
The Government of War
Following the announcement of the appointment of Kamel Al-Tayeb Idris as Prime Minister of the Port Sudan Authority on (May 18th), the authorities has faced criticism and skepticism from Sudan’s political elite, to the point that statements issued by Sudanese political entities have labeled it a “government of war.”
By appointing militia leaders to the new authority, Sudanese politicians believe the primary goal will be to quash any signs of revolution, intimidate young activists, and further complicate the path to civilian rule.
Some also argue that the intimidation is directed at parties and forces loyal to Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan’s forces, which have expressed dissatisfaction with Idris’s appointment as Prime Minister amidst escalating conflicts over positions and influence in Port Sudan.
