Opinion | The continuation of Rapid Support Forces

Prof. Simon El hag Kulusika

OPINION, APRIL 14, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – Today Al Jazeera TV news has carried on continuously news about growing tensions between what it referred to as the Rapid Support Forces and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Sudan. That the Rapid Support Forces (hereafter RSF) have been spotted mobilizing and being redeployed within the Sudanese capital city of Khartoum, and in other parts of Sudan.

The Al Jazeera TV reporter from Khartoum claimed that such mobilization of the RSF has heightened tensions between the RSF and the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Sudan (AFRS). Politicians in Khartoum and the public is anxious as they are not aware of the reasons of mobilization and redeployment of the RSF. In fact, a member of the Umma Patty was shown addressing the Media in which the Umma Party member expressed some doubts and concerns on the RSF mobilization.

Which a military spokesperson would appear to suggest that the mobilization of RSF was done without authorization from the General Army Command. Meaning without the authority of the Commander – in – Chief of the AFRS, the Chairman of the Supreme Sovereign Council of State, ie, the President of the Republic of the Sudan, under the Transitional Government of the Republic of the Sudan.

THE RAPID SUPPORT FORCES

The RSF which observers, especially the Medias, called as paramilitary units were established by President Marshall Omar Hassan Al Bashir. They were positioned in the Western regions of the Sudan, in order to fight insurgency in those parts of the Sudan. They were a standing alone armed forces not linked to the main armed forces of the Republic of the Sudan.

The RSF had their separate command to which field commanders reported directly, thereby bypassing the main military command in Khartoum, except the Commander – in – Chief. This semi – independence has given the RSF the aura that they were an independent military establishment owing no allegiance to the Army Commander other than the Commander – in – Chief of the AFRS.

There were no attempts to integrate them into the AFRS, after restoration of seemingly normal situation in the Western regions of the Sudan. And no active measures were put in place to carry out integration after the fall of Marshall Al Basher. This was bound to create complications regarding chains of military Commands in the armed forces of the Sudan, as the events of the last few days would attest to.

The whole matter boils down to uncertainty, confusion and fear of the intentions, or motives of the military movement and deployment of men and women in uniforms within the three cities of Khartoum, Khartoum North and Omdurman and outside of that metropolis. A situation not conducive for political stability and socio – economic transformation and development in the Sudan.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

The creation of the RSF should not raise fear if their existence as defense forces of the Sudan was enshrined in the constitution and other military instruments at the early stages of its evolvement as part and parcel of the military of the Sudan. With a clear and emphatic provisions that the RSF are standalone military Command answerable only to Commander – in – Chief in all operational matters.

But in actual combats the RSF should coordinate with the other forces in the field and should comply with commands of the appointed field Commander, to achieve tactical and strategic harmony necessary for military victory. This should have been the case and the specter of confusion and fear would have been avoided.

Another solution is to create several Arnie’s for the Sudan, as they are found in different military establishments the world over. The Sudan could divide its old armed forces into, e.g., five armies: the First Army:  Eastern Command, the Second Army: Northern Command, the Third Army: Western Command, the Fourth Army: Central Command, and the Fifth Army: Rapid Support Forces. Each army will have a separate Command, consisting of the known Military Divisions, Brigades, Battalions and so on.

In addition to the Presidential Guards, this has been in existence since the era of Marshall Nimeiri. The coordination of these Armies should be entrusted to a Joint – Chief of Staff comprising seven generals, five representing the Commanders of Armies named previously, in addition of two generals to balance decisions making in the Joint – Chief of Staff. Decisions for operational matters must be taken by consensus, failing of which the matter will be referred to the Commander – in – Chief for final resolution.

Any deployment must take place under the direction of the Joint – Chief of Staff with prior approval of the Commander – in – Chief, to achieve cooperation and harmony between the five armies. Such innovations will defuse tensions within the military and prevent speculations, gossips, and fear amongst the people of the Sudan.

CONCLUSION

This article is written by a layperson with little practical involvement in military matters. But he has military background at family, and kins levels that enable him to learn a little about the military. He also grew up in war and might die in war, Allah yakun in Al aon, Al Hamdu li Allah.

The most important thing is that the authorities of the RSF have assured the people of the Sudan that the current deployment and movements of soldiers and officers of the RSF are routine and should not cause alarms to the citizens. One hopes that is true. The Sudan needs durable political stability to give chance for economic recovery.

The author is a professor of law at Zambia Open University. He can be reached via: simonkulusika@gmail.com.

---

The views expressed in the ‘OPINIONS & ANALYSIS’ section of Sudans Post are solely the opinions of the writers. The veracity of any claims made are the responsibility of the author not this website. If you want to submit an opinion piece or an analysis please email us here.