A splinter faction of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) announced the establishment of a joint operations room with Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) aimed at lifting the year-long siege imposed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.
The faction, led by Mohamed Bashara Yahya, declared its support for the Sudanese army earlier this month, officially breaking ranks with the main JEM faction led by Suleiman Sandal. The move marks a significant development in the ongoing civil conflict, as more armed actors realign in response to the RSF’s growing presence in western Sudan.
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan’s military leader and head of state, held talks with Yahya and other faction leaders in Port Sudan on April 20. Following the meeting, the faction reaffirmed its allegiance to the national army and commitment to what it termed the “Battle of Dignity” — the SAF’s name for its war effort.
Yahya confirmed that preparations are underway to deploy forces around El Fasher to coordinate efforts to break the siege, which has devastated local infrastructure and cut off critical humanitarian access. “We have formed an operations room and our units will move in the coming days,” he said in a statement.
El Fasher’s civilian population has endured dire conditions for months, with food and medicine in dangerously short supply. Residents have reportedly resorted to improvised medical treatment amid continued shelling.
The split from Sandal’s leadership, according to Yahya, stems from internal disputes and accusations that Sandal supported the RSF and failed to maintain command structure cohesion. The faction also opposed Sandal’s decision to sign a political charter — under the newly formed “Tasis” Coalition — aimed at establishing a transitional government in RSF-controlled areas.
Yahya condemned the move, saying it risks deepening national divisions and invites further regional interference in Sudan’s fragile political landscape.
The new JEM faction claims to include the majority of the movement’s top military and political leadership, including its Commander-in-Chief, Chief of Staff, and field commanders.
As the conflict in Sudan continues to evolve, the realignment of armed factions could reshape the dynamics on the ground, particularly in the battle for control over Darfur’s strategic capital.