Raino: Follow-up – The Sudanese National Human Rights Observatory has expressed concern over growing indications of the expanding influence of Islamist-oriented groups within the armed forces, including the appearance of members of the Al-Baraa bin Malik Battalion wearing distinctive insignia such as yellow headbands, and the questions this raises about the nature of their role and chain of command.

Circulating local reports cite a message attributed to one of the battalion’s commanders stating that the decision to wage war or negotiate is not subject to the army command alone, raising concerns about the unity of military decision-making and its implications for ceasefire efforts and the pursuit of a peaceful settlement.