{"id":20105506,"date":"2024-10-31T17:56:39","date_gmt":"2024-10-31T16:56:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/?p=20105506"},"modified":"2024-11-05T13:47:12","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T12:47:12","slug":"growing-armed-presence-in-eastern-sudan-fuels-fears-of-escalation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/growing-armed-presence-in-eastern-sudan-fuels-fears-of-escalation","title":{"rendered":"Growing armed presence in eastern Sudan fuels fears of escalation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The \u2018Eastern Battalion forces\u2019 have said their troops are deployed across eastern Sudan in coordination with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). This raises fears of an escalation between the various armed groups present in eastern Sudan.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deployment was confirmed in a statement<\/a> on the group\u2019s Facebook page on Tuesday, saying that Gen Amin Daoud\u2019s battalion is now \u201csecuring the [Sudanese] border in Kassala\u201d following technical and military consultations with the Sudanese \u201carmy of the people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deployment of the Eastern Battalion has reportedly coincided with a similar move by the Beja Congress<\/a>, an armed group led by Mousa Mohamed, which is also operating in the region. Observers are concerned this development could lead to skirmishes between these groups and with the Darfur Joint Force*, which has stationed troops in the same areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fears are also mounting that regional militias may be drawn into the broader conflict between the SAF and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Long-standing tensions<\/a> between different groups in the eastern states amplify fears of an escalation of a tribal character in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A move from neutrality?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Eastern Battalion troops (Photo: Eastern Battalion’s page on Facebook)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In recent months, analysts have identified five main armed groups active in eastern Sudan<\/a>, most of which are trained in Eritrean camps<\/a>. These include the Eastern Battalion led by Amin Daoud, Eastern Sudan Liberation Forces led by Ibrahim Dounya, the Beja Congress led by Mousa Mohamed, and the Eastern Sudan National Movement led by Mohamed Tahir. Only the Sudan Shield Forces<\/a>, led by Mubarak Baraki and based within Sudan, is believed to train domestically in El Butana in northern El Gedaref, with the Rashaida tribe as their primary support base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khaled Taha, a journalist and writer, questioned in an interview with Radio Dabanga whether Daoud has formally abandoned his neutrality in the conflict, particularly as he has longstanding affiliations with the<\/a> Darfuri Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Jibril Ibrahim and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) led by Minni Minawi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDaoud\u2019s recent visit to Omdurman<\/a>, where he met with SAF deputy Commander-in-Chief Lt Gen Yasir El Atta, seems to be a turning point in his stance regarding the war\u201d, Taha added. Reports indicate that Daoud received permission to open new offices in Sudan\u2019s three eastern states, with promises of equipment and supplies for his forces. Radio Dabanga reached out to the Eastern Battalion leadership for comment but received no response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Eastern Battalion leader Amin Daoud (left) with SAF deputy commander Lt Gen Yasir El Atta (right) in Omdurman in late September (Photo: Eastern Battalion’s Facebook page)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Taha warned that the current redeployment of eastern militias effectively integrates them into the SAF\u2019s operations. \u201cAlthough termed a redeployment, it appears to be a direct involvement in the conflict.\u201d He believes the militias will soon join SAF\u2019s fight against the RSF. However, he cautioned that this conflict risks evolving from a military confrontation into a\u201d broader tribal war, pitting communities against each other\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taha also voiced concern that this expanding tribal involvement could spread beyond eastern Sudan to other regions, particularly the southern Sennar and Blue Nile states. \u201cWith eastern and central Sudanese tribes such as the Beni Amer and Shukria maintaining historical alliances across the Eritrean border,\u201d he suggested that these groups \u201cmight re-mobilise following the recent fighting in eastern El Gezira\u201d. He concluded that if these alignments persist, even formal agreements between SAF and RSF<\/a> might prove insufficient to stem the tide of inter-community violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you think?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Wednesday afternoon, we posed a question to our readers about their views of the recent deployment of Eastern Battalion forces across Sudan\u2019s eastern states, along with a poll: \u201cDo you think that the deployment of the Eastern Battalion forces in the eastern states of Sudan will lead to more military and political complications?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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