Sudan’s military leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, declared in early July the army’s unwavering commitment to welcoming and equipping voluntary combatants. Fast forward to September 6, and the Sudanese Armed Forces witnessed a remarkable sight as civilians, driven by unwavering patriotism, took centre stage in a grand display of military training and a resplendent parade amidst the arid landscape of Wad Hamid in Northern Sudan.
While the army spokesperson initially emphasized the voluntary nature of recruitment, it’s important to note that the existing Sudanese Armed Forces legislation mandates retired soldiers to remain as reservists, subject to potential compulsory re-enlistment—a provision that excludes those who have already completed Sudan’s obligatory two-year military service.
The contentious issue of potentially drafting civilians into the Sudanese Armed Forces has ignited intense debates that have raged on for weeks. This development carries the potential to exacerbate the already severe levels of violence that have plagued the nation.
Since hostilities erupted on April 15, pitting the conventional Sudanese Armed Forces, under the command of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against the formidable paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), once led by Burhan’s deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the conflict has exacted a devastating toll. A conservative estimate from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project has placed the tally at nearly 7,500 lives lost.
The humanitarian community is sounding alarm bells, with a particular focus on the dire circumstances faced by children. UNICEF reports a staggering statistic—over 13.6 million children are in dire need of humanitarian assistance, and a harrowing 300,000 young lives are on the brink of starvation.