An Immoral Record and Systematic Practices… How the Crimes of SAF and its MB Allies Undermine the Opportunities for Peace?
At the moment, Sudan is teetering on the brink of total collapse due to a protracted and bloody conflict. The humanitarian catastrophe is escalating as a result of the systematic military operations waged by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under the directives of Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, in close field and political alliance with the militias of the Islamic Movement (the Muslim Brotherhood) and the latter’s front, the National Congress Party (NCP).
The most pressing danger no longer lies solely in the continuation of armed confrontations, but further extends to encompass the escalating pattern of criminal activity targeting unarmed civilians and infrastructure, in a manner that completely undermines any remaining opportunities for reaching a just political settlement.
Indiscriminate Bombing and Collective Punishment Tactics
Following the outbreak of war in (April 2023), the United Nations and international reports have documented thousands of horrific violations committed by the Sudanese Armed Forces and its allied militias. Reports from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Independent Fact-Finding Mission confirm the military establishment’s excessive reliance on the Air Force, drones, and heavy artillery to target densely populated residential areas, markets, and service facilities.
The aforementioned criminal behavior was perfectly exemplified in the massacre that took place in the village of “Ghraa al-Zawaiya” in North Darfur in (February 2026), when a drone targeted a customary court where citizens had gathered to address local disputes, resulting in the untimely deaths of (35 civilians) as dozens more were injured. This incident in particular was merely the latest in a series of indiscriminate airstrikes, such as the bombing of “Sharshar” in North Kordofan, which led to the death of (24 civilians). Hence, the aforementioned demonstrates the military leadership’s choice to resort to collective punishment and systematic destruction in areas outside their control, a policy driven by the Muslim Brotherhood.
The “Security Forces” Overlap and Restoring the Deep State in Al Jazeera
The violations are far from limited to airstrikes, rather, they extend to encompass the unchecked power of Security Agencies and militias affiliated with the Islamic Movement in the areas under their control. In which context, Al Jazeera Human Rights Monitor revealed in its August report information regarding serious violations committed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Security Forces, and Muslim Brotherhood militias in Wad Medani and Al Jazeera state in general.
Furthermore, human rights documentation indicates that civilians are subjected to arbitrary detention for months without legal basis, as they’re denied access to legal counsel, and Police Stations have long become centers for extortion, with security forces demanding sums of up to (20 million Sudanese pounds) for the release of detainees.
The Security Forces, naturally, exert pressure and coerce witnesses into affirming pre-prepared testimonies. The afore referenced scenarios take place amidst the widespread presence of military headquarters and formations, such as the “Sudan Shield” Forces, within residential neighborhoods (like Al Zamalek), some of which have been transformed into secret detention centers reminiscent of the “guesthouses” and prisons of the former regime.
The SAF-Muslim Brotherhood Alliance: Obstructing Peaceful Solutions
The close alliance between the military leadership, elements of the former regime, and the Islamic Movement constitute a major obstacle to all regional and international initiatives to end the war. For the Muslim Brotherhood views the ongoing cycle of violence as a strategic opportunity to reassert their influence and eliminate their political opponents, exploiting State institutions and Security apparatuses to terrorize defenseless citizens and silence civil voices demanding democracy.
In addition, such arbitrary policies, compound with the relentless bombing have created the world’s worst displacement and famine crisis. Statistics from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Refugee Agency confirm that more than half the population are at risk of famine, and more than (12 million people) have been displaced both domestically and abroad due to the lack of safe passage and the deliberate disruption of the agricultural season.
In conclusion, the escalating field operations carried out by the Sudanese Army and its Muslim Brotherhood allies serve to demonstrate that relying on a military solution is nothing more than a desperate attempt to deliberately drain the nation’s resources. As dismantling these security and militia networks, and bringing war criminals to justice represent the sole path to restoring civilian rule and saving Sudan from complete collapse.
