El Fasher tense after Darfur joint force accuses army of killing members

The Joint Force plays a key role in securing parts of El Fasher as the city braces for potential attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have amassed fighters on the outskirts.

A leader in the Joint Force, who wished to remain anonymous, told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday, "Mohamed Ibrahim Khamis and Asim Abdel Karim were killed during the army's investigation."

He explained that Khamis and Abdel Karim were unarmed when apprehended by the army near the 6th Infantry Division's artillery headquarters. They were then taken to a military base.

"The two soldiers were subjected to brutal torture during interrogation to determine their identity," he said. "This included stabbings and beatings that resulted in their deaths. The army even burned their bodies before realizing they belonged to the Joint Force."

The slain soldiers were members of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Minni Minawi. The SLM is a prominent faction within the Joint Force, initially formed to protect civilians but now engaged in fighting alongside the army against the RSF.

The commander reported heightened tension following the incident. A large contingent of Joint Force fighters gathered at the Army Medical Corps Hospital, where the bodies were taken.

He revealed efforts by the El Fasher army commander and Joint Force command and control officers to de-escalate the situation. The accused soldiers have reportedly been arrested and will face a military trial.

El Fasher remains on edge as the army and Joint Force prepare to confront the RSF and its militias within the city. International calls for restraint have been made due to the presence of hundreds of thousands of displaced people seeking refuge there.