Mohamed Said Ahmed Al-Khatim (Al-Jakoumi), head of the Northern Entity, affirmed that the formation of Northern Forces has nothing to do with power struggles or ongoing conflicts, but is solely for the protection of the people of the North.
In a statement to Al-Muhaqqiq news site, Al-Jakoumi said there is now a direct threat from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia to our people in northern Sudan. He added that there are forces from outside the North currently present in the region, and that it is more appropriate for sons of the North to take responsibility for defending and protecting their areas from the threat of this militia—especially after the occupation of the border triangle and Karb al-Toum.
He stated, “It’s true that the army and popular resistance are strongly present, but we need more youth from the Northern region to face all potential threats to the region.” He added, “Sons of the North will take up defensive positions to protect their areas, allowing the other forces in the North to reorganize and prepare, alongside the armed forces and Northern Battalions, to liberate Darfur and parts of Kordofan.”
Al-Jakoumi emphasized that the army and security agencies have been informed about the training of these forces. “We are coordinating with them, and we will not take any step without their approval,” he said. He pointed out that Eritrea has trained a large number of Sudanese fighters from various Sudanese organizations, noting that it’s not unusual for Eritrea to be involved in training Sudanese fighters. Eritrea was among the first countries to declare its clear and firm support for the Sudanese people.
He added, “We see that President Afwerki has worked on training forces for various organizations. There’s no issue with some sons of the North receiving advanced combat training and returning to Sudan, and currently this is only available in Eritrea.”
He continued, “Sudan has been stung by some countries, such as Chad, Libya, and others that now stand against us.” He stressed that Eritrea is a friendly country that maintains loyalty and commitment to Sudan, noting that the Eritrean revolution began in Kassala. He said there is now an exchange in training youth groups in advanced training centers, which supports the national army and all regular forces in the country.
He added, “We will coordinate with them, and everything will be arranged with their knowledge and support. We won’t do anything without that coordination.” He continued, “We will be their support and a trusted right hand for the armed forces, the security agencies, and general intelligence.”
Al-Jakoumi explained that the training of 150,000 fighters will occur gradually, with the first batch consisting of 3,000 fighters. He said there is communication with several states to join the new alliance, including the Red Sea, Gezira, Sennar, Kassala, Gedaref, Khartoum, and White Nile states. “Twenty days ago, I contacted the Eritrean leadership and obtained preliminary approval. We didn’t want to announce this yet,” he said.
He clarified that these forces are peaceful and meant to defend the people of the Northern and Nile River states and protect property from militias through the people of the region. “We will not leave room for others to protect our regions,” he said. “We are in the preparation phase, and a delegation from the Red Sea and central Sudan will join us for final arrangements.”
Al-Jakoumi also confirmed that they have no disputes with any organization or armed movement. “We only stressed the need to adhere to the Northern Path Agreement,” he said. He added that the forces they are talking about were being planned before this development. “We are fully committed to the Juba Agreement, word for word, without addition or omission.”
