Sudanese Military Leader’s Call To Arm Civilians Stirs Controversy

Sudan’s military landscape has been rattled by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) General Commander Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan’s recent call for civilian armament in the fight against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Speaking at the Jabait military base on Friday, Al-Burhan announced plans to equip the “Sudanese Popular Resistance” with weapons, a move that has sparked widespread debate and concern.

The RSF condemned Al-Burhan’s call as a sign of the army’s inability to protect Sudan, warning that arming civilians could escalate into full-scale war and make them legitimate targets. This perspective was echoed by RSF senior advisor Haroun Mahmoud Medikhair, who highlighted the potential harm to civilians.

Contrastingly, Sudanese politician Husham Al-Shawani supported the initiative, viewing popular resistance as a duty and a step toward state-building. However, Mohamed al-Faki Suleiman, a former member of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, cautioned against the dangers of arming citizens and their involvement in warfare.

Khalid Omer Yousif, from the Coordination of Civilian Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), warned of the war’s evolving ethnic and racial dimensions, suggesting a point of no return.

The conflict between the SAF and the RSF, which began on April 15, 2023, has led to over 12,000 deaths, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported.