Sudan—Chad and the National Redemption Front

PSL MIL COUNTRY

Justification for SCS: Chad and the National Redemption Front have actively been engaged in conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Janjaweed militia. Chad has not only provided shelter for Sudanese rebels, but it has also actively supported the rebels in their campaign against the Khartoum government, both through material support and remittances. Continued offensive operations by and against the National Redemption Front runs counter to the interests of the United Nations, and the African Union with respect to Darfur. It violates both the N’djamena ceasefire agreement and the Darfur Peace Agreement and will likely result in a declining humanitarian situation on the ground, and more complicated operations for UNAMID and UNMIS.

Stakeholder size (number of people): The exact size of this force is unknown estimates range from the high thousands and up.

Area of Influence:
a. Geographic area: Operating primarily along the border region between Sudan and Chad. All three also conduct broader operations against the Sudanese military and the Janjaweed militia.
b. Population subsets: Particularly supportive of, and supported by, the Darfur population, and to a lesser extent the southern population.

Description of Organization
a. Who are the leaders? The National Redemption Front is comprised of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, the Justice and Equality Movement, and the Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance. The leaders were last known to be Ahmed Ibrahim Diraig, Dr. Khalil Ibrahim Mohamed, Khamis Abdalla Abakr, and Dr. Sharif Harir.
b. How does one gain influence in the group? To gain influence one must ascend to one of the leadership structures of the National Redemption Front, either the leadership council (in the event that the leader of a particular organization dies or resigns from the organization) or the general-secretariat (appointed commanders under the leaders of their respective organizations).
c. What issues do they care about? They are primarily concerned with the defense of the Darfurian population, and secondarily concerned with protesting the regional under-development in Darfur. They also promote a federal system that would allow for regional autonomy, seek a wealth-sharing agreement with the government in Khartoum, and seek equitable and proportional representation in government institutions.
d. What does the organizational structure look like? The leadership structure of the National Redemption Front is composed of two elements: a leadership council comprised of the leaders of the three founding organizations with a rotating presidency, and a general-secretariat responsible for the daily executive affairs.
i. Rule by consensus
ii. Oligarchy
iii. Dictatorship
iv. Theocracy
v. Etc.

Financial Resources (if applicable): The manner by which the National Redemption Fund generates income is unknown, though it is known that they are supported in large part by Chad (due to their efforts to quell Janjaweed militias).
a. List activities that generate cash flow:
b. Income from activities:
c. Profitability:

Military Resources (if applicable):
a. What arms do they possess
i. What type? The National Redemption Front is known to possess armored fighting vehicles, bladed weapons, improvised explosive devices, mines, small arms, and light weapons. The exact type of each of these weapons is unknown.
ii. How much? Quantity is unknown and in a constant state of flux, as the National Redemption Front captures weapons from their defeated Janjaweed and Sudanese Armed Forces adversaries.
b. Experience level: The National Redemption Front is not known to benefit from formal military training, though they are adept at conducting guerilla tactics.

Provide a short history of the stakeholder group
a. What is their origin? The National Redemption Front is comprised of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, the Justice and Equality Movement, and the Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance. These three groups refused to sign the Darfur Peace Agreement, and solidified their opposition to the document by forming the National Redemption Front.
b. How have they changed?
i. Interests: Their interests have not changed in the course of their existence. They are primarily concerned with the defense of the Darfurian population, and secondarily concerned with protesting the regional under-development in Darfur. They also promote a federal system that would allow for regional autonomy, seek a wealth-sharing agreement with the government in Khartoum, and seek equitable and proportional representation in government institutions.
ii. Level of influence: Their level of influence within Darfurian communities is very high, as they are seen as protectors within Darfur.
iii. Resources: Their means of acquiring resources have not changed.
iv. etc
c. What are their future goals? The future goals of the National Redemption Front are: 1) to bring together all Darfurians, 2) unify political, diplomatic, military, legal, media, and other popular initiatives to actualize protections for Darfurians and all Sudanese, 3) to end the genocide in Darfur and prosecute its perpetrators, 4) end the suffering of refugees and internally displaced Darfurians and compensate them for the repatriation, 5) ensure that the legitimate demands of marginalized areas are met, 6) advocate a system for wealth sharing and power sharing between regions of Sudan, 7) institute a federal system that would allow for regional autonomy, and 8) ensure participation in government structures based on population percentages in various regions.