Sudan—The Eastern Front

MIL PSL TCL

Justification for SCS: The Eastern Front operates a power-sharing government in Eastern Sudan, in the Sudanese states bordering Ethiopia. This power-sharing agreement was the result of an Eritrean-negotiated peace agreement between the Eastern Front and the Sudanese Government of National Unity.

Stakeholder size (number of people): While the exact number of the members of The Eastern Front is unknown, the peace agreement between the Government of National Unity and The Eastern Front provides for: one assistant to the president, one presidential adviser, and one state ministers post. In addition, The Eastern Front has eight parliamentary seats in Khartoum, and ten parliamentary seats in each of the three eastern states, for a total of 41 official positions.

Area of Influence:
a. Geographic area: The Eastern Front has influence in the three eastern states that border Eritrea: Kassala, Al Qadarif, and the Red Sea states.
b. Population subsets: The Eastern front is comprised of two tribal groups: the Beja and the Rashaida people.

Description of Organization
a. Who are the leaders? The Chairman of the Eastern Front is Mr. Mussa Mohammed Ahmed. However, members that have been appointed to parliamentary and advisory positions within the Government of National Unity and the state governments likely have influence within the Eastern Front.
b. How does one gain influence in the group? The manner by which individuals were chosen to fill the positions allotted under the peace agreement signed with the Government of National Unity is unknown. Indeed, the manner by which Mr. Mussa Mohammed Ahmed became chairman of the Eastern Front is also unknown, though as the Eastern Front represents the combined forces of the Beja Congress and the Rashaida Free Lions (a much smaller rebel group), it is likely that Mr. Ahmed was the leader of the Beja Congress prior to it joining with the Rashaida Free Lions.
c. What issues do they care about? As those in eastern Sudan, particularly among the Beja community are significantly impoverished, the Eastern Front is committed to the allocation of wealth, particularly oil resources to the eastern states. While the economic lifeline of Sudan, Port Sudan, is located in the east, many of the families that live in the east are still forced to live in shantytowns on the outskirts of the port, and work as laborers. The Eastern Front is committed to an equitable allocation of wealth to the eastern states.
d. What does the organizational structure look like? The precise structure of the Eastern Front, given the 2006 peace agreement, is uncertain. Particularly, the relative standing of members of parliament, as well as those appointed to advisory positions in the Government of National Unity is unknown. Prior to the peace agreement in 2006 hierarchy and decision-making was determined through tribal mechanisms amongst the Beja and Rashaida tribes in their communities eastern Sudan
i. Rule by consensus
ii. Oligarchy
iii. Dictatorship
iv. Theocracy
v. Etc.

Financial Resources (if applicable): N/A – a legitimate component of the Government of National Unity, the Eastern Front no longer generates income outside of its official duties to direct revenue to the eastern states. The precise amount of revenue directed to the eastern states is unknown.
a. List activities that generate cash flow:
b. Income from activities:
c. Profitability:

Military Resources (if applicable): N/A – pursuant to the 2006 peace agreement, the Eastern Front laid down their arms in exchange for their political gains.
a. What arms do they possess
i. What type?
ii. How much?
b. Experience level

Provide a short history of the stakeholder group
a. What is their origin? The Eastern Front is formed out of the Beja Congress and the Rashaida Free Lions. It was formed in the wake of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the north and the south. The formation of the Eastern Front also served to solidify opposition in the east, as the Government of National Unity attempted to promote the conception that the Beja were only concerned with themselves, though they made up only slightly more than half of the percentage of the population in the East.
b. How have they changed?
i. Interests: Their interests have not changed at all. The Eastern Front is concerned with the allocation of fiscal resources to the eastern states which are significantly impoverished. They maintain these interests in their official roles in the Government of National Unity and in state parliamentary positions.
ii. Level of influence: Their level of influence is of some debate. While they have been afforded several high level positions in the Government of National Unity, the level of change derived exclusively from the actions of the Eastern Front is unknown. However, the Eastern Front was able to negotiate a wealth-sharing element to the peace agreement reached in 2006, which has benefitted the eastern states.
iii. Resources: The resources of the Eastern Front are those afforded to them by the Government of National Unity pursuant to the wealth-sharing component of the 2006 peace agreement.
iv. etc
c. What are their future goals? Continued wealth-sharing with the Government of National Unity, and continuing representation within the official government structures, both in Khartoum and in the eastern states.