Legal Directive Extends Armed Forces Act
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has ordered every armed group supporting the Sudanese Armed Forces to operate under the 2007 Armed Forces Act, specifically Articles 14 and 52. The army described the measure as reinforcing rule of law and tightening command control.
The announcement, released from Port Sudan on 17 August, coincided with a wave of promotions and retirements among senior officers, signalling an effort to align legal change with refreshed leadership during the protracted battle against the Rapid Support Forces.
Analysts Predict Shifts in Chain of Command
Military scholars argue that formally absorbing more than 20 pro-government militias could streamline battlefield decisions and curb impunity that has plagued past operations, especially in Al-Jazira State where rights monitors documented civilian deaths earlier this year.
“Uniform legal parameters reduce grey zones,” noted Khartoum-based security analyst Sami Ibrahim. However, he cautioned that bringing militia fighters before military courts will demand robust logistics and political will that previous administrations struggled to muster.
Accountability Hopes Tested in the Field
Rights advocates welcomed the directive yet warned that command integration must translate into disciplined conduct on the ground, not merely new insignia. Questions persist over whether allegations will reach courtrooms or dissolve through informal mediation.
During January operations in central villages, eyewitnesses reported killings attributed to auxiliary units. Without transparent trials, survivors fear that legal harmonisation will feel cosmetic. The army has not detailed investigative mechanisms or timelines.
Future Implications for Sudan’s Conflict Landscape
Politically, the order may strengthen Burhan’s negotiating leverage by projecting institutional coherence ahead of any regional mediation efforts. Observers believe unified statutes could reassure international partners concerned about fragmented security actors.
Yet actual success will hinge on sustained discipline and civilian protection while clashes with the RSF continue to displace millions. For now, the decree signals the army’s intent to centralise authority in a war that has splintered Sudanese society.