Sudan Shield Forces
| Sudan Shield Forces | |
|---|---|
Logo of the Sudan Shield Forces | |
| Leader | Abu Aqla Kaikal |
| Dates of operation | 2022–present |
| Headquarters | El-Gezira |
| Active regions | Eastern Sudan (mostly Butana and Gezira), |
| Size | 35,000-75,00 men,[1][2] |
| Allies | Sudanese Armed Forces |
| Battles and wars | Sudanese civil war (2023–present) |
| Website | Telegram and Twitter |
Sudan Shield Forces (SSF, Arabic: قوات درع السودان, romanized: Qūwāt Dirʻ al-Sūdān) is an armed group which was created in 2022, and is led by Abu Aqla Kaikal. Sudan Shield Forces fights alongside the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), in the current Sudanese civil war.
History
Sudan Shield Forces was created by Kaikal in 2022, in the state of Al-Gadarif.[3] According to Kaikal the creation of the group was "to maintain security and restore strategic balance in the country, in light of the Juba Agreement".[4] SSF fighters were mainly recruited from Arab communities in Gezira State.[5]
Civil war
After the current civil war started Kaikal first sided with SAF but in August 2023 it stopped co-operation and defected to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).[5] SSF took part in the First battle of Wad Manadi.[6] The group was reportedly in "full control" of Gezira state by December 2023.[7] In October of 2024 Kaikal and his forces defected back to the SAF, which lead to a series of violent retaliatory attacks by the RSF on civilians in Gezira State.[8] SSF participated in the Second battle of Wad Madani and with SAF they retook the town in 11 of January, 2025.[9]
War crimes
El-Gezira
During the RSF occupation of Gezira state, SSF forces were accused of war crimes including extajudicial killings of civilians, looting and rape.[10]
Gezira State canal killings
According to the investigation published by CNN and Lighthouse Reports, after taking control of Wad Manadi in January 2025, SAF and SSF forces were connected to attacks against civilians, especially of the Kanabi ethnic group.[11][12] Jaafar Mohamedein, the Secretary-General of the Kanabi Congress accused SSF of horrific acts such as “raping women, killing men, and burning children".[13]
References
- ^ "قد تقلب موازين القوى.. "درع السودان" تنضم للدعم السريع". www.skynewsarabia.com. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ عثمان, مزدلفة. "أعلنت انضمامها للدعم السريع.. ما حجم قوات "درع السودان"؟ ولماذا تبرأت منها أغلب القبائل؟". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "Unravelling Sudan's militia matrix: PRF and other emerging forces". Dabanga Radio TV Online. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ النور, النور أحمد. "ماذا يعني انضمام قائد الدعم السريع بالجزيرة للجيش السوداني؟.. الإجابة في 8 نقاط". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ a b "Sudan: Armed Group Allied to the Military Attacks Village | Human Rights Watch". hrw.org. 25 February 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ نور, محمد حاج. "قوات الدعم السريع تسيطر على مدني بما في ذلك مقرات الجيش بعد فرار الاخير إلى سنار والدمازين". sudanwarmonitor.com. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "Sudan RSF 'in full control' of El Gezira, appoints former army officer as commander". Dabanga Radio TV Online. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "How an RSF commander's defection led to a massacre in Sudan". www.bbc.com. 23 December 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "Sudanese army advances to retake city of Wad Madani from RSF". Reuters.com. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "الحرب في السودان: بي بي سي تستمع لشهادات مروعة من ناجين من "مجزرة ود النورة"". BBC News عربي (in Arabic). 16 August 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "The Kanabi Killings". Lighthouse Reports. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "Bodies in the canals". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "Sudan war: Dozens dead amid accusations of sexual violence in El Gezira". Dabanga Radio TV Online. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2026.