Minni Minawi cites atrocities by RSF as reason for Abandoning Neutrality

January 25, 2024 – (PORT SUDAN) Minni Minawi, leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement, has attributed his movement’s decision to abandon neutrality in the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to the RSF’s alleged commission of grave violations that could amount to genocide.

In an interview with Sudan TV on January 24, Minawi explained that the decision to remain neutral was initially agreed upon with Jibril Ibrahim, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement, and Malik Agar, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North. However, this stance was not adopted by Al-Hadi Idris, leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Transitional Council, Al-Taher Hajar, leader of the Sudan Liberation Forces Gathering, and Khamis Abkar, leader of the Sudanese coalition.

Minawi underscored that the primary objective of neutrality was to confine the conflict to the army and RSF, noting that the formation of the joint force to protect civilians and markets in Darfur was founded upon this agreement.

“However, after eight months, we observed that the violations had exceeded all limits, becoming far more excessive than necessary and in some cases amounting to genocide,” he declared, referring to incidents in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, and Kutum, North Darfur, where over sixty people were selectively killed.

He clarified that from the outset, the armed movements had maintained that neutrality was not absolute and that their commitment to it would depend on whether the RSF refrained from targeting civilians, their property, or civilian public facilities.

Minawi sharply criticized the RSF, stating that they had no grounds to blame him for not siding with them, adding, “No one can outdo us and say that you did not receive our support. Yes, I am not with you because your behaviour is wrong, and it led us to abandon neutrality.”

He emphasized that his decision to abandon neutrality did not mean he was aligned with the army against the RSF; rather, he and the army were jointly defending Sudan during these critical circumstances.

Minawi called on the RSF to put an end to these violations so that they could be treated as “citizens.”

On November 29, 2023, Minawi revealed communications between him and the RSF commander, indicating that they had maintained an uninterrupted dialogue.

Minawi, Jibril Ibrahim, and Mustafa Tambour, leader of a faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement, jointly announced their departure from neutrality and alliance with the Sudanese army on November 16, 2023.