The Rapid Support Forces’ crackdown on political opponents fuels tension and uncertainty
In a recent surge of repression aimed at political opponents, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan have detained hundreds of Islamist leaders and activists. The arrests, which began prior to the outbreak of fighting in April, have intensified in recent weeks, further exacerbating the ongoing power struggle in the country.
Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of the RSF and a former militia leader from Darfur, has positioned himself as a reformer while accusing Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the de facto military leader, of being a “radical Islamist.” Dagalo’s attempt to seize power has faced fierce opposition from the Islamists, who fear the loss of their long-held political and economic influence in Khartoum.
According to an audio statement by Dagalo, the RSF has detained thousands of Islamists during the conflict, including former members of the intelligence service and Islamist militias. While independent confirmation of the exact numbers is not available, several high-profile figures within Sudan’s Islamist movement have been arrested, including Mohamed al-Jazouli, the leader of a new alliance of Islamist parties, and Anas Omar, a former senior intelligence general and state governor under the regime of Omar al-Bashir.
The conflict in Sudan has already claimed the lives of at least 2,000 people, with millions suffering due to the widespread violence. The attitudes of the main actors involved in the conflict towards the Islamist movement are crucial, say analysts. Dagalo seeks to portray the Islamists as a significant threat, positioning himself as the counterforce to their influence. This approach not only serves his political agenda but also aligns with his economic interests, as the Islamists are deeply entrenched in the country’s economy.
Throughout the years, the Islamists have maintained a notable presence among the regular military officers, who are now engaged in battles against Dagalo’s RSF. Estimates suggest that the proportion of Islamists among the military officers is around two-thirds, highlighting their historical strategic placement within the armed forces. This infiltration allowed them to exert influence even when ousted from political roles.
Since coming to power in 1989, Bashir, in collaboration with the National Islamic Front, fostered a system filled with ideologically committed Islamist supporters in the bureaucracy and intelligence services. However, Burhan, the current military leader, has primarily focused on preserving the power and influence of Sudan’s military establishment, thereby turning to veterans of Bashir’s regime to counter challenges from pro-democracy forces and Dagalo.
Earlier attempts at reform, including a potential purge of Islamists, were abandoned and reversed following the military coup in 2021, which shattered hopes for a transition to democracy. Senior Islamists who had fled the country, many seeking refuge in Turkey, were able to return. In April of the following year, a new Islamist coalition was launched in Khartoum, attended by numerous former regime supporters and officials. Additionally, thousands of Islamists protested against the presence of the United Nations in Sudan.
There are widespread suspicions that Islamists played a role in preventing a potential deal between Burhan and Dagalo that could have averted the current conflict. The RSF has accused Burhan of freeing a dozen jailed Islamists loyal to Bashir, all of whom were former senior officials. Sudan’s military claimed that these individuals escaped from Kober prison during the fighting.
The precise whereabouts of Bashir, who has been imprisoned since 2019 after mass protests led to his removal, remain unclear. Military authorities have stated that he was transferred from Kober prison to a military hospital before the outbreak of the rebellion.
