Sudan expands volunteer mobilization against paramilitary RSF forces

​​​​​​​Sudan's government has announced the expansion of its volunteer mobilization program to counter the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, with officials reporting substantial voluntary enrollment that eliminates the need for compulsory conscription. The development comes as the Sudanese military seeks to regain momentum following significant territorial losses to the RSF, including the October capture of El Fasher in North Darfur.

Volunteer Mobilization Strategy

Bashir Makki al-Bahi, head of the High Committee for Mobilization and Popular Resistance, confirmed that training programs would continue with reopened camps preparing volunteers for deployment to active front lines. He emphasized that "there is no need or intention to launch compulsory conscription campaigns, given the large voluntary rush of youth to the camps to support the armed forces." The official characterized the popular resistance as a necessary national response to external threats targeting Sudan's unity and sovereignty.

Organizational Structure

The mobilization effort has evolved from spontaneous local responses to rebel activities into a formally structured program following the declaration of a state of mobilization by armed forces commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The initiative now operates through organized committees at federal, state, and local levels, with the Transitional Sovereignty Council having established formal regulations governing volunteer recruitment and committee mandates in May 2024.

Dual-Track Approach

The mobilization program incorporates two distinct components: armed volunteers supporting military operations across various combat axes, and civilian volunteers focused on reconstruction and service provision in liberated territories. This comprehensive approach aims to both reclaim territory from RSF control and stabilize areas returned to government authority. The committee has instructed local authorities to announce general mobilization and establish training camps to support the armed forces' campaign objectives.