Key facts
- Civilians in Sudan's Kordofan region are increasingly joining Popular Resistance units to fight alongside the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
- The Popular Resistance, established by army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, provides weapons and training to civilians.
- Mustafa Karam al-Din, a pharmacist from Bara, joined the Popular Resistance after his brother was killed and home ransacked by the RSF.
- The RSF has been accused of widespread atrocities and genocide in Darfur.
- The RSF is reportedly backed by the UAE, with evidence of foreign mercenaries fighting alongside them.
- Some pro-democracy activists express concern that the Popular Resistance is dominated by religious conservatives aiming to restore figures from Omar al-Bashir's era.
Civilians in Sudan's Kordofan region are increasingly being drawn into the conflict, taking up arms to defend themselves against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This phenomenon, which has been observed since the war's early months in other parts of the country, sees many joining the Popular Resistance units fighting alongside the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
The Popular Resistance was officially established by army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in June 2023, with the SAF providing weapons and training to tens of thousands of civilians. These cadres include individuals from diverse backgrounds, even pro-democracy activists who previously opposed Burhan's military rule.
However, some civilian political parties, like Sumood led by former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok, argue that the Popular Resistance is dominated by religious conservatives aiming to reinstate figures from Omar al-Bashir's era. Despite these political concerns, fighters in North Kordofan, the site of recent intense battles, state that politics has taken a secondary role to the immediate threat posed by the RSF.
Mustafa Karam al-Din, a pharmacist from Bara, joined the Popular Resistance after the RSF killed his brother and looted his home. He described the RSF's brutality towards civilians in Bara, noting that the paramilitary group appeared to be seeking revenge after the SAF had briefly held the city. Karam al-Din believes the conflict has become a proxy war involving the UAE, which he claims is using the RSF as a tool and has supplied them with weapons and mercenaries.
Mohammed Adam, a pro-democracy activist, initially expressed skepticism about armed resistance alongside the SAF but was forced to flee Bara after RSF fighters attacked civilians. He recounted witnessing significant death and displacement and described an incident where RSF fighters attacked a funeral ceremony. Some activists, speaking anonymously, echo concerns that former regime associates are leading the Popular Resistance to exploit the war for their return to power.