El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur of western Sudan, witnessed bloody clashes on Saturday between factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Transitional Council (SLM-TC) and a breakaway group. The confrontation resulted in casualties on both sides, underscoring the deep internal divisions within the movement.
The SLM-TC has been grappling with internal disagreements for months, particularly regarding its stance in the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). While some leaders advocate for supporting the army, others advocate for neutrality, exacerbating the rift within the movement.
These internal divisions culminated in a split, with a new faction emerging under the leadership of Salah Rasas. This faction declared allegiance to the Sudanese army and readiness to confront the RSF. In contrast, SLM-TC leader Al-Hadi Idris maintains a neutral position, refusing to align with either party in the conflict.
According to military sources cited by Sudan Tribune, clashes erupted near Abu Shouk camp as a splinter group led by General Osman Abdel-Jabbar attacked a group affiliated with the SLM-TC led by Al-Hadi Idris. The confrontation resulted in casualties on both sides.
The Transitional Council’s military spokesperson issued a statement condemning the attack as a “treacherous act” by armed forces and allied movements. The spokesperson claimed that their forces repelled the attack, causing losses to the aggressors, and successfully reached their destination. The statement also announced casualties among their ranks and vowed a measured response against the attackers.
The rift within the SLM-TC deepened in late March when the movement withdrew from the joint force formed by armed movements that signed the Juba Agreement. This decision came in response to the defection of a group led by Lieutenant Colonel Abdeen Musa, who sought refuge with the Sudanese army in El Fasher. The SLM-TC deemed this defection a violation of the Juba Agreement and its principles.
