Sudanese Armed Forces facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sudanese Armed Forcesالقوات المسلحة السودانية |
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| Insignia of the Sudanese Armed Forces.svg Insignia of the Sudanese Armed Forces |
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| Established | 1925 (as Sudan Defence Forces) |
| Current form | 1956 |
| Parts |  Sudanese Army Sudanese Navy Sudanese Air ForceRepublican Guard |
| Headquarters | Khartoum |
| Leadership | |
| Supreme Commander | Transitional Sovereignty Council |
| Minister of Defence | Yassin Ibrahim Yassin |
| Chief of Staff | Muhammad Othman al-Hussein |
| Serving soldiers | |
| Military age | 18 |
| Active employees/soldiers | 300,000 |
| Reserve personnel | 200,000 |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | $2.47 Billion (2017 est.) |
| Percent of GDP | 1.0% (2017 est.) |
| Industry | |
| Suppliers from inland | Military Industry Corporation |
| Suppliers from foreign countries |
 Belarus China Cuba Czech Republic Iran North Korea Poland Russia Turkey Ukraine Vietnam |
| See also | |
| History | Military history of Sudan
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| Ranks | Military ranks of Sudan |
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are the official military of the Republic of the Sudan. They are responsible for protecting the country. In 2011, experts thought there were about 109,300 people in the SAF. Other groups estimated the number could be as high as 200,000 or even 300,000, not counting reserve forces.
In 2016–2017, another group called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had 40,000 members. They took part in the Yemeni Civil War. Later, in 2023, the SAF and RSF began fighting each other in Sudan.
Contents
History of Sudan's Military
The Sudanese army started with six groups of soldiers from southern Sudan. The British recruited them in 1898 when they took control of Sudan. Sudan became known as Anglo-Egyptian Sudan in 1899.
In 1922, Egypt gained independence from the United Kingdom. Egyptians wanted more say in Sudan. They created special Sudanese helper units within the Egyptian Army. These units were the start of the modern Sudanese Army.
How the Sudan Defence Force Started
The British Army formed the Sudan Defence Force (SDF) in 1925. This force was made up of different groups of soldiers. Most were Muslim soldiers in the north. But the Equatoria Corps in the south had Christian soldiers.
During World War II, the SDF helped allied forces fight Italians in Ethiopia. They also served in the Western Desert Campaign in Libya. In 1947, military schools in Sudan closed. The number of Sudanese troops was reduced to 7,570.
In 1948, the first Arab-Israeli War began. Sudanese Colonel Harold Saleh Al-Malik chose 250 experienced soldiers. They went to Cairo to join the Egyptian army. Forty-three Sudanese soldiers died in this war.
In 1953, Britain and Egypt agreed that Sudan would become independent. General Ahmed Mohammed became Sudan's first army chief in 1954. This was important because Sudan finally had its own army.
Sudan Becomes Independent
The Equatoria Corps had a rebellion in Torit on August 18, 1955. This happened just before Sudan became independent. This event led to the start of the Anyanya rebel group and the First Sudanese Civil War.
Soldiers from the Equatoria Corps were told to move north for independence ceremonies. But they rebelled instead. Other southern soldiers in Juba, Yei, Yombo, and Maridi also rebelled. Northern troops were sent to stop the rebellion. By the end of the month, the Equatoria Corps was "eliminated."
After the 1954 Torit rebellion, northern soldiers who had left the forces could return. More people were also recruited. When Sudan became independent in 1956, the army was seen as very well-trained. But its nature changed over the years.
Army officers started thinking about getting involved in politics. The army grew to 12,000 people by 1959. It reached almost 50,000 by 1972. On November 17, 1958, two top generals, Major General Ibrahim Abboud and Ahmad Abd al Wahab, took power. This was a military takeover.
The First Sudanese Civil War started in the south in late 1963 and early 1964. Rebels attacked police posts and army barracks. President Abboud had to step down after protests in 1964.
In 1969, the Sudanese Army had about 26,500 men. It included infantry, armored units, and artillery. After independence, British advisors helped train the army and air force. Most of their equipment came from Britain.
On May 25, 1969, Colonel Jaafar Nimeiry and other young officers took power. This was another military takeover. From 1969 to 1971, a military government ruled. The first civil war ended in 1973.
Sudan sent soldiers to help Egyptian forces in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. They arrived too late and did not fight. Sudan's military ties with Western countries ended after the 1967 Arab–Israeli War. Sudan then worked closely with the Soviet Union.
Soviet help led to a big increase in Sudanese Armed Forces personnel. The number grew from 18,000 in 1966 to almost 50,000 by 1972. Most of the army's equipment in the 1970s and early 1980s came from the Soviet Union. This included tanks, artillery, and fighter jets.
The Second Sudanese Civil War started again in 1983 and lasted until 2005.
The Al-Bashir Years
By the time of the coup in 1989, many army units had soldiers from the South. They often joined for food and pay. They fought well but did not like offensive operations.
Under President Omar al-Bashir, who took power in 1989, the armed forces included the Land Forces, Navy, Sudanese Air Force, and Popular Defence Forces. The Popular Defence Forces were formed in 1989.
The Land Forces were mainly light infantry in 1991. They had six regional commands across Sudan. Each command was like a division. For example, the Fifth Division was in Al-Ubayyid. The First Division was in Juba. The Seventh Armoured Division was near Khartoum.
To help the regular army, the government used militias. One such group was the South Sudan Defence Forces. This group was formed in 1997.
In 2004, the Popular Defence Forces had 10,000 active members. They also had 85,000 reserve members. They fought alongside the regular army against rebel groups. In 2005, new units were formed with rebels from the Sudan People's Liberation Army.
In 2007, experts estimated the SAF had 104,800 personnel. They were supported by 17,500 paramilitary personnel. The army had several infantry divisions and brigades. It also had a Special Forces battalion and an airborne division.
The SAF and government-backed militias fought in several conflicts. These included the Second Sudanese Civil War, the Darfur Conflict, and the Sudan–SPLM-N conflict. They also fought in the Yemeni Civil War.
Joint Integrated Units (2005–2011)
The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement ended the second civil war. It said that "Joint/Integrated Units" would be formed. These units would combine soldiers from the SAF and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). The idea was that these units would become the future national army if Sudan stayed united. If not, they would split up.
These Joint Integrated Units (JIUs) were planned to have several divisions. For example, the 1st Infantry Division would have 9,000 people in the Equatoria area. The 4th Infantry Division would have 6,000 people in the southern Blue Nile area. There was also a JIU Infantry Battalion for the Abyei Area.
The Joint Defence Board (JDB) met for the first time in January 2006. It was led by generals from both the SAF and SPLA. However, there were problems. The three most serious breaks in the ceasefire came from JIU actions. Trust issues between the North and South made it hard for the JDB to manage the JIUs.
After South Sudan became independent in 2011, the JIUs were dissolved. SPLA members either rejoined the SPLA or left the military. Many SAF members in the JIUs were former militia members. They had strong ties to their local areas.
After Al-Bashir's Fall (2019–Present)
On April 11, 2019, the Sudanese Armed Forces carried out a coup. They removed Omar al-Bashir from power after many months of protests. On June 3, 2019, the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by the Rapid Support Forces, were involved in a violent event in Khartoum.
A new government structure was set up in August 2019. The "Sovereignty Council" became the head of state. It was also the top commander of the armed forces and other uniformed groups. The armed forces and Rapid Support Forces were described as national military groups that protect the country.
On October 28, 2019, the head of the Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, appointed a new military leadership. This included Lt. Gen. Mohamed Osmana al-Hassan as Chief of General Staff. Other leaders were appointed for the land, naval, and air forces. These changes were seen as a way for al-Burhan to gain more control over the army.
Training and Education
The Military Academy at Wadi Seidna, near Omdurman, has been the main place for officer training since 1948. The program lasts two years. It focuses on military science, politics, and physical training. Graduates become second lieutenants in the SAF.
Each year, about 120 to 150 officers graduate from the academy. In the early 1970s, this number went up to over 500. Students from other Arab and African countries also trained there. For example, in 1982, sixty Ugandans graduated.
Military Equipment
The Sudanese Armed Forces mainly use weapons from the Soviet Union, Russia, China, Ukraine, and Sudan itself. Sudan has its own weapons company called the Military Industry Corporation.
Sudan did not have a big arms industry until the late 1990s. So, it relied on foreign countries for weapons, equipment, and training. The standard rifle used by soldiers is now the Dinar. It is a version of the H&K G3 rifle made in Sudan.
In 2011, the SAF had about 360 main battle tanks. These included T-54/55, Type 59, and M-60 tanks. They also had 10 'Al Bashier' tanks, which are a Sudanese version of the Chinese Type 85M-II tank. Chinese Type 96 tanks are also used.
The army also has many armored cars and personnel carriers. These include French Panhard AML-90, Soviet BRDM-2, and British Ferret armored cars. They also have Soviet BMP-2 and US M-113 vehicles.
In 2011, Sudan had over 778 artillery pieces. These included US M-101 and Soviet D-30 howitzers. They also had self-propelled artillery and multiple rocket launchers like the Soviet BM-21 Grad.
Other weapons include mortars, anti-tank weapons, and anti-aircraft guns. T-72 tanks, mobile air defense systems, and more rocket launchers have also been seen with the Sudanese forces. Armored vehicles are made and fixed at a complex in Khartoum.
Air Force
The Sudanese Air Force uses Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters. They also have Karakuram K-8 training aircraft. Their fighter jets include MiG-29, Su-25, Su-24, F-5, and Nanchang Q-5 'Fantan' planes.
The United States sold transport aircraft and F–5 combat aircraft to Sudan. Saudi Arabia helped pay for these. A long-standing training center and airbase is at Wadi Sayyidna.
Sadly, many senior military leaders have died in aircraft crashes. This happened in 2001 and again in August 2012.
The Sudanese Navy was created in 1962. It operates on the Red Sea coast and the River Nile. Yugoslavia helped a lot in starting, training, and supplying ships for the navy. They first provided four coastal patrol boats.
In 1971, the Navy had six patrol craft, two landing craft, and three helper ships. Its main base was at Port Sudan. In 1999, the navy had about 1,300 officers and men. Bases were in Port Sudan, Flamingo Bay, and Khartoum.
The navy had two Kadir-class coastal patrol boats. These were transferred from Iran in 1975. They also had sixteen inshore patrol craft and two supply ships. Other boats included Kurmuk class patrol boats and ex-Yugoslav patrol boats.
In 2004, experts estimated the navy had 1,800 personnel. By 2017, this number had fallen to 1,300.
Foreign Military Help
In the late 1970s, Sudan's relationship with the Soviet Union became less close. Sudan then turned to China and Britain for training and equipment. Sudan also received money from Arab countries, like Saudi Arabia, to buy Western equipment.
Until 1985, Sudan's closest military ties were with Egypt. They had a defense agreement signed in 1976. Egypt supplied Sudan with ammunition and weapons.
The United States also gave military aid to Sudan. This included training officers and selling transport aircraft, artillery, and tanks. Between 1979 and 1982, military sales credits grew from $5 million to $100 million. Sudan allowed the US to use naval facilities at Port Sudan.
The US reduced military aid when the civil war in southern Sudan restarted in 1983. In 1989, Washington stopped military aid because Sudan was behind on loan payments. In 1990, the US stopped aid to Sudan's government after a democratic government was overthrown. The European Union also stopped arms sales to Sudan in 1994. However, these actions did not stop Sudan from getting more weapons.
Between 1983 and 1988, Sudan got about $350 million in military arms and equipment. The United States was the biggest supplier, giving $120 million. China and France each gave $30 million, and Britain gave $10 million.
Many Middle Eastern and Gulf countries, like Iran and Libya, gave Sudan over $2 billion in "economic aid" in the 1970s. Sudan used much of this money to buy weapons. Also, Sudan's neighbors sometimes provided weapons or safe places for rebel groups.
Since the early 1990s, at least 34 countries have sent ammunition and small arms to Sudan. In recent years, it is thought that there were between 1.9 and 3.2 million small arms in Sudan. About one-fifth of these were held by the government or pro-government militias.
In the early 2000s, Sudan was one of Africa's biggest buyers of weapons. It continued to get weapons from many suppliers. These included Belarus, China, Egypt, Iran, Russia, and South Africa. They supplied ammunition, armored vehicles, helicopters, and tanks. China also helped build weapons factories in Sudan.
There were claims that the SAF used chemical weapons in South Sudan. However, these claims were never proven. Similarly, reports in 2004 that Sudanese and Syrian troops tested chemical weapons in Darfur were not confirmed.
Recently, the UAE has supplied weapons to both the RSF and the SAF. This has caused problems in Sudan. In April 2023, footage showed thermobaric shells captured by the Sudanese army. These shells were made in Serbia in 2020 and supplied through the UAE. The Sudanese military also received training from Egyptian forces.
Uniforms and Ranks
Before 1970, the highest officer rank was fariq (like a lieutenant general). But new ranks were added when Nimeiri became a general and then a field marshal. As of 1991, there were no officers higher than lieutenant general.
The army's service uniform was dark green. Rank signs were gold on shoulder boards. It looked a bit like police uniforms, which were a different shade of green. Army members wore green berets, except for airborne units, who wore red berets. Police wore black berets.
The air force uniform was blue. The rank signs were the same as for the army. The standard naval uniform was white with blue shoulder boards.
