A senior Sudanese military official has warned that the uncontrolled spread of weapons across Sudan poses a greater threat than the ongoing battle with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), highlighting deepening security and societal challenges amid the country’s civil conflict.
General Shams al-Din Kabbashi, the army’s Assistant Commander-in-Chief and a member of the Sovereignty Council, made the remarks on Saturday during a meeting with state officials in Port Sudan.
“The spread of arms among civilians is now a more dangerous challenge than the known enemy,” Kabbashi said, referring to the RSF. He urged state governors to prioritize disarmament and social stability, warning that the widespread availability of weapons could spark long-term instability.
Kabbashi also advocated for the withdrawal of army combat units from recaptured urban areas, suggesting police forces should instead take charge of internal security. “We need our military units on the frontlines. Cities must be policed, not militarized,” he said.
He acknowledged incidents of misconduct by some army-affiliated forces within cities and called on governors to facilitate their rotation and replacement. Additionally, Kabbashi raised concerns about increasing polarization, hate speech, and ethnic divisions, calling for urgent measures to rebuild social cohesion.
“The war is not just fought on the battlefield,” he said. “It’s also tearing apart the social fabric of our communities.”
He addressed the controversial role of native administration leaders—traditional tribal authorities—some of whom have allegedly supported the RSF, and revealed a new draft law to regulate their responsibilities is under review.
Kabbashi further stressed that Popular Resistance militias aligned with the army must be brought under formal control. “We will not tolerate any armed actor operating outside official structures,” he warned, stating that all unofficial militias must either integrate under the army’s oversight or disband.
The general also announced new defense strategies aimed at countering drone attacks on public infrastructure and reiterated the army’s stance that the RSF is being used as part of a broader conspiracy to destabilize Sudan.