Robbery Under the Cover of Military Uniforms… SAF violations escalate amidst civilians’ wails of distress

Areas controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), as the latter is backed by Islamist militias, are witnessing an increase in reports of serious violations against innocent civilians. The aforementioned forces are accused of claiming to maintain security in the areas under their control, but are actually involved in practices akin to those implemented by armed gangs.

Local sources and media outlets have documented incidents of robbery and looting committed by individuals wearing military uniforms, which further exacerbated the residents’ feelings of insecurity and fear plaguing their daily lives.

Accusations of Looting and Intimidation

According to the Sudanese newspaper (Al-Rakoba), the Revolutionary Resistance Committees in the Eighth District of Omdurman issued a strongly worded statement accusing the Joint Patrol Forces —theoretically tasked with maintaining order— of committing acts of looting as well as robbery of shops and stalls in front of Al-Nao Teaching Hospital, according to local media reports.

The statement described the incident as “acts of systematic terrorism, targeting the local population,” through false accusations and terrorizing innocent civilians rather than protecting them.

The Committees held the Port Sudan forces responsible for spreading fear and suffering, stressing that the entities tasked with protecting the people from thieves and looting gangs have become the perpetrators of the same behavior.

They added that these actions have nothing to do with military discipline or professional conduct, but rather reflect the mentality of outlaw gangs and tarnish the image of the Sudanese State itself.

The Resistance Committees noted that they have “continuously called for an end to these repeated violations, which undermine confidence in security institutions and exacerbate tensions amongst the Sudanese.”

Similar Incidents

Unfortunately, the aforementioned incidents aren’t isolated, as previous media reports have revealed acts of looting shops and markets in cities under the control of the Port Sudan forces, carried out by individuals wearing military uniforms.

Informed Sudanese sources also revealed to (Erem News) that levies -fees- are being imposed on merchants in exchange for allowing them to operate in areas under the control of the Port Sudan forces, led by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan.

The sources shared that the violations against civilians included arbitrary arrests of local youths on suspicion of rebellion, while these forces were accused of involvement in selling confiscated property on the black market.

Jean-Baptiste Gallopin, a senior researcher in the Crisis, Conflict and Arms Division at Human Rights Watch, noted in February that: “Armed groups fighting alongside Port Sudan forces have committed violent crimes against civilians during previous attacks in Al-Jazeera State.”

He emphasized that “Sudanese authorities ought to urgently investigate all reported violations and hold those responsible, including Commanders of the Sudan Shield Forces, accountable.”

A Flagrant Violation of the Law

The statement issued by the Resistance Committees described the violations as “barbaric acts” that cannot be justified, stressing that protecting the dignity and safety of citizens are red lines that must not be crossed.

Observers believe that the continuation of such practices threatens to disintegrate the social fabric and perpetuates security chaos, exploited by militias allied with Port Sudan forces to expand their influence.

In a previous article, Sudanese expert Abdel Moneim Suleiman stated, “The imminent danger in Sudan lies not only in the war, but in its aftermath as well and the political consequences it will produce.”

Suleiman warned that “if the country is left prey to Islamists —as some regimes in the region wish to achieve their narrow, parasitic interests— Khartoum could once again change, in a more brutal manner, from being a city seeking stability and peace into a dark hotbed of extremism as well as a haven for terrorism, exporting violence to the entire region, threatening the stability of Africa, the Arab region, and even the entire world.”