The Joint Force: We reject any unilateral decision by SAF Commander

 The Joint Force, which constitutes of armed factions that signed the Juba Peace Agreement (JPA), announced their rejection of the decision issued by the Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, which aims to subject all forces supporting the Sudanese Army to his direct authority, in accordance with the 2007 Armed Forces Act and its amendments.

Furthermore, this rejection comes amidst escalating tensions between the military leadership and a number of Armed Movements that have been fighting alongside the Army, against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), since the beginning of the ongoing war in (April 2023).

Idris Mahmoud, a leader in the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), confirmed on his Facebook page that the Joint Force will not abide by Al-Burhan’s latest decision.

He explained that their relationship with the Sudanese Army is based on the security arrangements protocol in the Juba Peace Agreement signed in (2020), which they consider the sole reference for regulating the relationship between the two parties.

He stressed that any integration or demobilization process ought to take place in accordance with the mechanisms agreed upon in the (JPA), not by a unilateral decision by the Sudanese Army Commander-in-Chief.

Idris pointed out that Al-Burhan’s decision primarily targets other military formations that emerged following the outbreak of the ongoing war, such as the Sudan Shield Forces, Al-Baraa Ibn Malik Corps, and the Popular Resistance.

This divergence in positions reflects the complexity of the military landscape in Sudan, where the interests of the Armed Movements that have signed international agreements overlap with the Sudanese Army Commander’s decision.

Last Sunday, the Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Army issued a statement announcing his decision to place all allied forces under the provisions of the Military Law, including the organization of their structures, training, and missions. Although the decision failed to specify the names of these formations, the ongoing war has witnessed widespread participation from Armed Movements that had previously signed the Juba Peace Agreement, in addition to unofficial groups, all operating under the name “Joint Force.”

It is worth noting that the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces since (April 2023) has resulted in significant human losses. The United Nations and local authorities estimate that more than (20,000 people) have been killed, and approximately (15 million) others have been displaced or living as refugees. Meanwhile, a study by American universities indicates that the death toll could approach (130,000 victims), highlighting the massive humanitarian disaster in the country.