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Justice and Equality Movement

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) is a Sudanese rebel organization established in early 2003 by Darfurian intellectuals and former Islamist dissidents to challenge the central government's systemic marginalization of non-Arab ethnic groups in political power and resource allocation.^[1] Drawing ideological roots from the 2000 "Black Book" publication that empirically documented the underrepresentation of Darfur's population in national governance, JEM positioned itself as an Islamist-influenced force seeking federal reforms, equitable development, and an end to Arab-centric policies.^[1] Under the leadership of physician Khalil Ibrahim until his death in a 2011 government airstrike, JEM rapidly emerged as one of Darfur's most militarily capable factions, coordinating with the Sudan Liberation Movement in the April 2003 assault on al-Fashir airbase that ignited the broader insurgency against Khartoum's neglect and mobilization of Janjaweed militias.^[2] The group's daring 2008 "Operation Long Arm" raid penetrated deep into Sudan, reaching Omdurman near the capital, demonstrating logistical prowess and temporary alliances with external actors like Eritrea, though it failed to topple the regime.^[3] Post-Khalil, his brother Gibril Ibrahim assumed command, navigating internal schisms and regional entanglements in Chad and Libya while sustaining operations in Darfur and Kordofan.^[1] JEM's defining characteristics include its emphasis on educated cadres over tribal militias, distinguishing it from more fragmented Darfur groups, and its opportunistic shifts, such as allying with the Sudanese Armed Forces against the Rapid Support Forces in the 2023 civil war, reflecting pragmatic adaptation to power dynamics rather than rigid ideology.^[4] Controversies have centered on accusations of rebel atrocities against civilians during counteroffensives, though empirical assessments attribute primary responsibility for Darfur's estimated 300,000 deaths and 2.7 million displacements to government-backed militias, with JEM's actions framed as defensive responses to existential threats from aerial bombings and ethnic cleansing campaigns.^[5] By 2024, Gibril Ibrahim's integration into the transitional government as Finance Minister underscored JEM's evolution from insurgency to political stakeholder, prioritizing disarmament of paramilitaries like the RSF for national stability.^[6]

Origins and Ideology

Founding Motivations

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) emerged in early 2003 as an armed opposition group in Sudan, founded by Khalil Ibrahim Muhammad and a cadre of educated Darfuri elites, many of whom were former members of Hassan al-Turabi's Popular Congress Party (PCP).^[1] ^[7] The core impetus stemmed from longstanding grievances over the Sudanese government's systemic marginalization of peripheral regions like Darfur, where non-Arab ethnic groups such as the Fur—predominant in the area—faced political exclusion, economic neglect, and underrepresentation in national power structures dominated by riverain Arab elites.^[3] ^[1] Ibrahim, who formalized JEM's establishment while pursuing a master's degree in public health in the Netherlands in 2001, positioned the movement as a response to these imbalances, drawing ideological inspiration from Islamist critiques of the ruling National Congress Party's failure to uphold equitable Islamic governance.^[8] ^[9] A pivotal intellectual foundation was The Black Book: Imbalance of Power and Wealth in the Sudan, an anonymously published 2000 manifesto attributed to JEM precursors, which quantified the disproportionate control of national resources and positions by a narrow Arab-centric elite from central Sudan, allocating less than 5% of top roles to Darfuris despite their demographic significance.^[3] ^[10] The document argued that this structural bias perpetuated underdevelopment and cultural erasure in Darfur, fueling JEM's demand for comprehensive national reform, including federalism, democratic power-sharing, and the eradication of tribal favoritism within the Islamist framework inherited from the National Islamic Front.^[11] ^[9] Unlike more regionally focused Darfur groups, JEM's vision extended to "liberating" the entire Sudan through regime change, viewing Darfur's plight as symptomatic of broader authoritarian failures under Omar al-Bashir's rule.^[12] JEM's motivations crystallized amid escalating government repression, including aerial bombings and militia-backed displacements targeting Fur communities from 2001 onward, which the group cited as evidence of genocidal intent against non-Arab Muslims.^[1] ^[12] Founders emphasized causal links between Khartoum's centralist policies—rooted in post-independence Arabization—and Darfur's humanitarian crises, rejecting negotiated autonomy in favor of armed struggle to enforce adl (justice) and musawah (equality) as Islamic imperatives.^[13] This stance, articulated in early communiqués, underscored JEM's rejection of northern-dominated Islamist parties as complicit in peripheral subjugation, prioritizing empirical redress over ideological purity.^[1]

Ideological Framework

The ideological framework of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) is rooted in the 2000 publication The Black Book: Imbalance of Power and Wealth in the Sudan, a document authored anonymously by JEM precursors, including founder Khalil Ibrahim, which quantifies the disproportionate dominance of northern Nile Valley elites—primarily Arab Muslims—in Sudanese governance, estimating their control over 95% of senior positions in politics, military, and economy despite comprising a small fraction of the population.^[3]^[14] This analysis frames marginalization not primarily as racial or religious conflict but as systemic regional favoritism and centralization, attributing Sudan's instability to the exclusion of peripheral regions like Darfur, which receive negligible shares of power and resources.^[15] JEM positions itself as a response to these imbalances, advocating for a restructured national order that enforces equitable distribution through constitutional mechanisms. At its core, JEM espouses an Islamist orientation influenced by the Popular Congress Party's emphasis on Islamic revolution, yet critiques the Sudanese regime's application of Islamism as elitist and northern-centric, failing to extend benefits to non-Arab peripheries.^[1] The movement seeks regime change and national reform via a federal system, proposing a "United Regions of Sudan" with rotating presidencies to ensure representation from marginalized areas, thereby addressing grievances beyond Darfur to encompass all Sudanese peripheries.^[3] This framework combines populist demands for justice and equality—defined as ending oppression and redistributing wealth—with Islamic democratic principles, rejecting the government's centralized authoritarianism in favor of decentralized governance aligned with sharia but inclusive of diverse ethnic groups.^[13]^[1] JEM's self-conception as a nationalist organization open to all marginalized Sudanese underscores its integrated project for holistic change, prioritizing causal factors like governmental atrocities and failed peace efforts over ethnic division, while maintaining Islamist underpinnings through leaders like Khalil Ibrahim, a devout figure with ties to Islamist networks.^[1] Unlike the regime's Islamism, which JEM views as perpetuating northern hegemony, the movement's ideology emphasizes empirical redress of power asymmetries to prevent national disintegration, as articulated in statements decrying the monopolization of opportunities by a narrow elite.^[3] This approach has drawn support from Darfurian Arabs and other groups since 2007, broadening its base while sustaining a commitment to federalism as a pragmatic solution to Sudan's multi-regional composition.^[1]

Leadership and Internal Structure

Key Leaders and Succession

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) was founded in early 2003 by Dr. Khalil Ibrahim, a Zaghawa physician and former diplomat who had served in the Sudanese government before breaking away to lead the insurgency against perceived marginalization of Darfur's non-Arab populations.^[1] Ibrahim, drawing on Islamist influences and advocacy for federalism and equality, positioned JEM as ideologically distinct from other Darfur rebels by emphasizing a broader Sudanese reform agenda over purely ethnic grievances.^[16] Under his command, JEM conducted high-profile operations, including the May 2008 raid on Omdurman, Sudan's capital, which demonstrated the group's military reach and ambition beyond regional skirmishes.^[3] Khalil Ibrahim led JEM until his death on December 24, 2011, during clashes with Sudanese Armed Forces near the border with South Sudan, where government forces ambushed his convoy after intelligence tracked his movements from Libya.^[17] ^[16] His killing, confirmed by JEM spokespersons and Sudanese officials, marked a significant blow to the movement, as Ibrahim's personal charisma and strategic acumen had unified disparate Zaghawa factions and attracted external support from Chad and Libya.^[18] Succession proceeded through JEM's consultative shura council, which elected Ibrahim's brother, Gibril Ibrahim, as chairman on January 26, 2012, during a meeting in South Kordofan, affirming continuity in leadership within the family and Zaghawa core.^[19] ^[20] Gibril, previously JEM's foreign affairs head and a London-based coordinator, pledged to sustain armed resistance while pursuing political avenues, though his tenure saw internal fractures, including the September 2012 defection of commander Mohamed Bashar, who formed JEM-Bashar amid accusations of authoritarianism and resource disputes.^[21] ^[1] Additional splits, such as Zakaria Musa's JEM Corrective Leadership in January 2012, highlighted challenges in maintaining cohesion post-Khalil, exacerbated by battlefield losses and peace talks.^[1] Gibril retained control of the main JEM faction, later integrating into Sudan's transitional government after the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement, serving as finance minister from November 2020 onward.^[22]

Organizational Composition and Factions

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) was founded in early 2003 by a core group of educated, politically experienced Darfurians, many of whom were former members of the Popular Congress Party, with an initial emphasis on recruiting from the Kobe sub-clan of the Zaghawa ethnic group.^[1] This composition reflected a centralized, ideologically driven structure prioritizing political elites over broad tribal alliances, distinguishing JEM from more fragmented Darfur rebel groups like the Sudan Liberation Movement.^[23] By 2007, JEM expanded recruitment to include Darfurian Arabs, some former janjaweed militia members, in efforts to diversify beyond its Zaghawa dominance, though the Kobe Zaghawa remained the primary ethnic base for leadership and fighters.^[1] The organization's military wing, estimated at over 5,000 fighters by mid-2010, operated under a hierarchical command with access to small arms, heavy weapons, vehicles, and limited armor, coordinated by a chief of staff overseeing regional forces in areas like South Kordofan and South Darfur.^[1] JEM maintained a formal leadership hierarchy topped by a chairman, supported by an executive office—expanded to 18 members in February 2012 following internal transitions—and key roles like chief of staff (e.g., Suleiman Sandal) and commander-in-chief.^[1]^[8] Khalil Ibrahim served as chairman from the group's inception until his death in a Sudanese government airstrike on December 25, 2011, after which Tahir al-Faki acted as interim leader until Jibril Ibrahim, Khalil's brother, was elected chairman on January 26, 2012.^[1] This centralized model fostered cohesion in military operations but sowed seeds for factionalism, as deputy roles (e.g., Mohamed Bahr Hamadein, removed in 2011 over suspected government negotiations) and command positions often hinged on personal loyalty to the chairman rather than institutionalized checks.^[8] JEM also absorbed splinter elements from other groups, such as a Liberation and Justice Movement faction in April 2012, to bolster its ranks amid splits.^[8] Factional divisions emerged early and intensified after 2011, primarily driven by disputes over clan dominance, leadership styles, and approaches to peace talks. At the end of 2006, a JEM-Wing for Peace faction broke away to align with the Darfur Peace Agreement, reflecting early rifts over negotiation strategies.^[24] In September 2007, Vice President Bahar Idriss Abu Garda defected to form the JEM Collective Leadership (JEM-CL), accusing Khalil Ibrahim of authoritarian control.^[8] Post-Khalil's death, mid-January 2012 saw Zakaria Musa establish another JEM-CL variant, citing excessive influence by the Kobe clan and advocating for quicker peace deals; this group briefly joined Doha process talks before refocusing on Darfur operations.^[1] That same year, Commander-in-Chief Bakheit Abdallah Abdel Karim (Dabajo) was dismissed by Jibril Ibrahim, leading his supporters to form JEM-Bashar under Mohamed Bashar on September 11, 2012; this faction signed onto the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur in April 2013 but suffered leadership losses to JEM-Jibril forces in May 2013.^[1]^[8] Further fragmentation occurred with the emergence of JEM-Sudan (JEM-S) in 2012, which claimed 40-65% of JEM's forces and signed a separate peace accord with the Sudanese government in March 2013, underscoring persistent tensions between hardline holdouts under Jibril Ibrahim and those favoring accommodation.^[8] These splits weakened JEM's unity but preserved a core faction under Jibril Ibrahim, which retained operational capacity through disciplined Zaghawa recruits and centralized command, even as later incidents—like the 2023 dismissal of four senior members (Suleiman Sandal, Ahmed Tugud, Adam Jagada, and others) for unauthorized Rapid Support Forces contacts—highlighted ongoing internal purges to enforce loyalty.^[23] Despite diversification attempts, Zaghawa overrepresentation fueled many schisms, limiting JEM's appeal as a pan-Darfurian movement.^[1]

Military Operations in Darfur Conflict

Initial Raids and Anti-Government Actions (2003-2007)

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), founded in early 2003 by Darfurian Islamists including Khalil Ibrahim, initiated armed actions against the Sudanese government to protest systemic neglect of the region and demand national political reforms.^[1] ^[25] In coordination with the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), JEM forces launched their first major offensive in February 2003, targeting police stations and military outposts in rural North and West Darfur, such as ambushes near Gulu and early strikes in the Jebel Marra highlands, which killed dozens of government personnel and captured weapons caches.^[26] ^[27] These raids exploited the government's under-resourced positions, emphasizing hit-and-run tactics to avoid direct confrontations with superior Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) units. A pivotal escalation occurred on April 25, 2003, when JEM and SLM/A rebels assaulted the El Fasher airfield in North Darfur, destroying at least nine government aircraft—including Antonov bombers used for aerial operations—and inflicting over 50 SAF casualties, thereby crippling Khartoum's initial air response capabilities in the theater.^[8] ^[28] JEM claimed the attack as a demonstration of resolve against perceived Arab supremacist policies favoring nomadic militias over sedentary Fur, Zaghawa, and Masalit communities, with fighters numbering around 1,000-2,000 at the time, armed primarily with small arms looted from prior engagements.^[29] Subsequent actions through late 2003 included raids on supply convoys along the El Fasher-Nyala road, seizing fuel and munitions to sustain operations amid growing SAF counteroffensives supported by Janjaweed proxies. From 2004 to 2006, despite the N'Djamena humanitarian ceasefire agreement signed by JEM on April 8, 2004—which aimed to halt hostilities pending talks—JEM maintained sporadic anti-government operations, including ambushes on SAF patrols in South Darfur and attacks on garrisons in remote areas like Um Kadada, rejecting full demobilization as insufficient for addressing Islamist-inspired grievances outlined in their "Black Book" manifesto.^[30] ^[1] JEM's refusal to endorse the May 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA), which it viewed as favoring Khartoum by integrating only select SLM/A factions, sustained its guerrilla campaign, with forces growing to an estimated 5,000 fighters equipped with anti-aircraft guns and RPGs by mid-decade.^[29] ^[7] In 2007, JEM intensified raids amid fracturing rebel alliances, capturing the strategic town of Haskanita in North Darfur on October 10 after overrunning a SAF battalion, seizing heavy weaponry and briefly clashing with African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) observers in the vicinity, an action that underscored JEM's aim to control territory for leverage in nationwide regime-change efforts rather than localized autonomy.^[29] These operations, totaling dozens of engagements, inflicted hundreds of SAF losses while minimizing JEM casualties through mobility, but strained relations with international mediators due to perceived violations of AU-monitored truces.^[25] Overall, JEM's early-phase actions prioritized disrupting government logistics over holding ground, reflecting a doctrine blending Islamist ideology with ethnic mobilization against Khartoum's central authority.^[31]

Khartoum Offensive and Escalation (2008-2011)

In early May 2008, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) launched a major offensive from its bases near the Chadian border, mobilizing approximately 400 vehicles, including 150 armored pick-up trucks, to advance eastward toward Khartoum. Sudanese authorities detected the column on May 8, leading to initial clashes in North Kordofan province, about 75 miles west of the capital, on May 8 and 9. JEM forces, numbering around 1,000 fighters, aimed to seize key targets such as Radio Omdurman, the military headquarters, the presidential palace, and the Wadi Saidna Air Force base north of the city, in an effort to destabilize the Sudanese government and draw international attention to the Darfur conflict.^[32]^[33] On May 10, JEM combatants penetrated Omdurman, Khartoum's twin city, attacking sites including Arba’een Road, the Al-Awsat police station, and suburbs en route to central Khartoum. Intense urban fighting ensued for several hours, involving small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and Sudanese government deployments of tanks and helicopter gunships; the battle spread briefly into Khartoum proper but did not achieve deep penetration of government installations. JEM claimed to have captured vehicles, ammunition, and funds while targeting security forces, though Sudanese officials reported repelling the assault with minimal disruption to core government functions. A government-imposed curfew from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. contained the incursion, and JEM forces withdrew westward by May 11, with one senior commander, Jamal Hassan Jelaladdin, reported killed.^[32]^[33]^[3] Casualty figures varied sharply between sources: the Sudanese government claimed over 400 JEM fighters and 100 security personnel killed, plus 30 civilians; JEM disputed this, asserting only 45 of its own killed or wounded; independent estimates confirmed at least 60 civilian deaths from crossfire and police shootings. The offensive marked the first rebel incursion into the capital region in decades, highlighting JEM's logistical reach but ultimately failing to alter the balance of power.^[32]^[33] The attack prompted a severe Sudanese government crackdown, including mass arrests of over 1,000 suspected JEM sympathizers—primarily Zaghawa ethnic group members—in Khartoum and Darfur, alongside reports of torture and enforced disappearances. Special anti-terrorism courts sentenced dozens to death, with at least 38 executions pending by late 2008, though none were carried out immediately. This escalated counterinsurgency efforts, straining JEM's operations; by 2009–2010, the group faced expulsion from Chadian bases in February 2010 and Sudanese offensives from April 2010, resulting in loss of North Darfur strongholds. JEM conducted sporadic joint operations with allies like the Sudan Liberation Army-Unity but signed a tentative ceasefire in February 2010, which faltered amid ongoing skirmishes; the period culminated in the December 2011 death of JEM founder Khalil Ibrahim during a government ambush in South Darfur, fragmenting the movement.^[33]^[1]^[34]

Sustained Guerrilla Warfare (2012-2019)

During this period, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), led by Gibril Ibrahim following his brother's death in late 2011, shifted from conventional assaults to protracted guerrilla tactics characterized by ambushes, raids on military convoys, and cross-border incursions, often in coordination with the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) alliance comprising Darfur-based groups and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.^[35] These operations targeted Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) positions and supply lines, leveraging mobility from bases in South Sudan to evade government superiority in air power and armor, though they yielded limited territorial gains amid SAF counteroffensives and aerial bombardments.^[36] In February 2012, JEM fighters ambushed a UN-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) convoy near Tabaldi in North Darfur, abducting 50 peacekeepers from Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Mali on 19 February; the group claimed the action protested SAF attacks on civilians but released the hostages on 14 March after Qatari mediation. Concurrently, intra-rebel clashes in East Darfur on 1 February killed at least three JEM combatants, highlighting factional tensions amid resource scarcity.^[37] By July, JEM-Sudan elements, numbering around 1,000 fighters in a convoy of over 100 vehicles, infiltrated South Kordofan from South Sudan, launching raids on SAF garrisons in Karkade, Tabaldi, and Um Rawaba areas; Sudanese airstrikes reportedly destroyed dozens of vehicles and inflicted heavy casualties, forcing a retreat.^[38] SRF-joint operations, incorporating JEM contingents, escalated in April 2013 with coordinated assaults on SAF outposts in South Kordofan (including Talodi and Abu Jubayhah) and North Kordofan, aiming to disrupt government logistics but resulting in SAF recapture and rebel losses estimated at scores killed.^[39] JEM also claimed an August 2013 ambush near Dilling in South Kordofan targeting SAF-escorted fuel tankers, denying UNAMID involvement despite Khartoum's accusations.^[40] These actions strained JEM's resources, prompting recruitment drives among Nuba communities and reliance on South Sudanese support for arms and sanctuary.^[36] Clashes persisted sporadically into 2015, such as a July engagement in Hamari, South Kordofan, where JEM forces repelled an SAF advance but suffered casualties in a firefight involving heavy weapons.^[41] However, by 2014, many JEM units withdrew from the Two Areas (South Kordofan and Blue Nile) to regroup along Darfur-South Sudan borders, reducing frontline presence amid SRF infighting and SAF gains.^[42] Operations tapered further post-2015, with JEM-Gibril maintaining peripheral hit-and-run tactics in Darfur's Jebel Marra but avoiding major confrontations; by 2019, the faction was described as largely inactive in core Darfur theaters, overshadowed by government consolidation and prelude to peace negotiations.^[43] This phase underscored JEM's adaptation to attrition warfare, sustaining pressure on Khartoum through asymmetric means despite mounting logistical challenges and defections.

Peace Negotiations and Integration Efforts

Pre-2020 Talks and Partial Agreements

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) engaged in initial peace discussions with the Sudanese government shortly after the onset of the Darfur conflict, signing the N'Djamena Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement on 8 April 2004 alongside the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), which aimed to facilitate humanitarian access and halt hostilities in specific areas but collapsed amid ongoing clashes.^[44] Subsequent efforts in 2006, including preparatory talks in Tripoli, Libya, under African Union auspices, faltered as JEM leaders, including Khalil Ibrahim, insisted on direct bilateral negotiations excluding non-signatory factions, leading to a boycott of the broader Abuja process and no binding agreement.^[45]^[46] The Doha mediation process, initiated in 2009 under Qatari auspices, marked a more sustained but fragmented engagement for JEM, with preliminary accords signed in early rounds committing parties to continued dialogue but yielding no comprehensive settlement.^[47] By 2013, JEM-Sudan formalized a limited ceasefire on 10 February in Doha, pledging an immediate halt to land and air operations in Darfur, establishment of a joint ceasefire commission monitored by UNAMID, and progression to substantive talks on power-sharing and security arrangements, though implementation stalled amid mutual accusations of violations and JEM's internal splits.^[48]^[49] This agreement excluded broader political integration, focusing narrowly on de-escalation, and represented a tactical pause rather than resolution, as JEM maintained operational autonomy in eastern Sudan.^[50] Efforts resumed sporadically in the late 2010s amid shifting Sudanese leadership under Omar al-Bashir. On 23 November 2018, JEM initialed a pre-negotiation draft in Addis Ababa under African Union mediation, signaling intent to revive Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD)-based talks, followed by a formal pre-negotiation agreement signed on 6 December 2018 in Berlin with the GoS and SLM-Minni Minnawi faction, sponsored by Germany, Norway, the UK, and the US.^[51]^[52] This pact outlined confidence-building measures, such as prisoner exchanges and humanitarian corridors, and committed to resuming substantive negotiations in Doha on DDPD amendments, but progress halted after Bashir's ouster in April 2019, with JEM suspending participation citing unmet demands for inclusive transitional dialogue.^[53]^[54] These partial steps underscored JEM's strategic hedging—securing tactical ceasefires without conceding military leverage—while highlighting persistent gaps in trust and enforcement, as verified by UN monitoring reports noting sporadic breaches.^[55]

Juba Peace Agreement and Aftermath (2020)

The Juba Peace Agreement was signed on October 3, 2020, in Juba, South Sudan, between Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council and a coalition of armed groups under the Sudan Revolutionary Front, including the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) represented by its leader Gibril Ibrahim.^[56] ^[57] The accord addressed longstanding conflicts in Darfur, Blue Nile, and South Kordofan, committing signatories to end hostilities, integrate combatants into state security structures, and share power in the transitional government, with revolutionary movements allocated 25% of ministerial positions and legislative seats.^[56] ^[58] JEM, a Darfur-based group primarily composed of Zaghawa fighters, endorsed the deal as a pathway to federalism and equitable resource distribution, marking a shift from its prior rejection of partial accords like the 2011 Doha Document.^[56] ^[59] Under the agreement's security arrangements, JEM pledged to canton its forces for verification and eventual integration into the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), with provisions for a unified military doctrine emphasizing citizen protection and national sovereignty; up to 55% of combatants from signatory groups were slated for absorption, alongside demobilization and retraining programs for the remainder.^[56] Economic incentives included affirmative action for war-affected regions and a dedicated Darfur Development Fund to support reconstruction, addressing grievances over marginalization that fueled JEM's insurgency since 2003.^[56] ^[60] The deal excluded holdout factions like the Sudan Liberation Movement faction led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur, limiting its scope to non-comprehensive peace and raising concerns among analysts that it prioritized elite power-sharing over grassroots reconciliation.^[59] ^[61] In the immediate aftermath during late 2020, implementation commenced with the establishment of joint committees for security sector reform and power-sharing negotiations, though progress stalled due to disputes over integration ratios and command structures.^[62] JEM forces observed a cessation of hostilities as stipulated, withdrawing from forward positions in Darfur to facilitate verification by Sudanese and international monitors, but reports emerged of localized skirmishes with non-signatory groups testing the truce's durability.^[56] ^[63] The transitional government allocated initial portfolios to JEM representatives in December 2020 preparatory reshuffles, setting the stage for Gibril Ibrahim's formal elevation to a senior economic role, while critics noted the agreement's reliance on external mediation—facilitated by South Sudan's President Salva Kiir—risked entrenching patronage networks without addressing underlying ethnic tensions or accountability for past atrocities.^[62] ^[58] By year's end, the accord had bolstered the transitional regime's legitimacy among signatories but faced skepticism from civilian activists who viewed it as sidelining the 2019 revolution's democratic demands in favor of military-rebel accommodations.^[61]

Role in 2023 Sudanese Civil War

Shift to Alliance with Sudanese Armed Forces

In the early stages of the Sudanese civil war that erupted on April 15, 2023, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), under the leadership of Gibril Ibrahim, adhered to military neutrality as stipulated by the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement, while maintaining political alignment with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)-led transitional government based in Port Sudan.^[4] ^[64] This stance reflected JEM's partial integration into state structures—Ibrahim served as Minister of Finance—yet preserved the movement's independent armed capabilities amid the power struggle between SAF commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti).^[65] The shift toward active military alliance with the SAF was precipitated by RSF territorial gains and reported atrocities in Darfur, including the capture of major cities such as Nyala and El Geneina by October 2023, accompanied by massacres targeting non-Arab communities and allegations of ethnic cleansing.^[4] ^[64] JEM leaders cited the need to counter RSF advances that threatened civilian populations, with Ibrahim specifically accusing the RSF of burying people alive and risking the partition of Darfur or the establishment of a separate RSF-controlled entity in the region.^[4] These developments eroded JEM's neutral position, as the RSF's dominance in four Darfur states by late 2023 heightened fears of irreversible demographic and political changes favoring Arab militias rooted in the Janjaweed legacy.^[65] On November 17, 2023, following seven months of negotiations, JEM and the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minawi faction (SLM-MM) issued a joint statement renouncing neutrality and pledging to deploy fighters alongside the SAF across all conflict frontlines.^[4] ^[64] Gibril Ibrahim, as JEM chairman, emphasized the defensive imperative to protect Darfurian civilians from RSF violence, framing the alliance as a bulwark against broader national fragmentation.^[4] This decision aligned JEM with other Darfur-based groups, including SLM-MM under Minni Arko Minawi (then Darfur regional governor), forming the Joint Darfur Force headquartered in El Fasher to coordinate operations.^[65] The move marked a departure from prior restraint, enabling JEM's thousands of combatants—experienced in guerrilla tactics—to bolster SAF efforts without formal disarmament.^[65] The alliance provided the SAF with tactical advantages in Darfur's rural and desert terrains, where JEM's local knowledge facilitated containment of RSF sieges, such as in El Fasher starting April 2024.^[64] ^[65] By early 2024, JEM forces redeployed to central theaters like Khartoum and al-Jazirah, contributing to SAF recapture of over 430 positions since September 2024.^[65] Critics from rival factions, such as the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North under Abdelaziz al-Hilu, argued the shift exacerbated inter-communal violence in Darfur by entangling rebel groups in the SAF-RSF binary, though JEM maintained it was essential for civilian defense and national unity post-RSF defeat.^[64]

Engagements Against Rapid Support Forces

In November 2023, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), led by Gibril Ibrahim, publicly aligned with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to combat the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) amid the latter's advances in Darfur. JEM's decision was framed by Ibrahim as a defensive measure to protect non-Arab civilians from RSF-perpetrated atrocities, including mass killings and reports of live burials, following RSF dominance in West Darfur after the ethnic cleansing of El Geneina in mid-2023.^[4] This alliance integrated JEM fighters into joint operations with SAF and other Darfur-based groups, such as the Sudan Liberation Movement faction under Minni Minawi, forming a coordinated front against RSF incursions.^[64] JEM contributed thousands of combatants to these efforts, primarily concentrated in North Darfur, where they bolstered SAF defenses during the RSF's siege of El Fasher beginning in August 2023. By early 2024, JEM forces participated in repelling RSF assaults on the city's outskirts, mobilizing alongside local militias to counter RSF ethnic targeting of groups like the Zaghawa, JEM's core ethnic base.^[66] These engagements involved guerrilla tactics and joint patrols, contributing to SAF's stabilization of El Fasher as a key holdout amid RSF control over much of the region, though they exacerbated civilian displacement and town destructions reported in UN monitoring.^[67] In February 2024, amid RSF pushes toward central Sudan, Ibrahim affirmed JEM's frontline role in broader counteroffensives, emphasizing the necessity of defeating RSF to enable national army integration.^[68] The engagements yielded mixed tactical results, with JEM-SAF forces preventing RSF capture of El Fasher through 2024 but failing to reclaim lost Darfur territories like Nyala and Zalingei. RSF retaliatory strikes, including drone attacks, inflicted heavy civilian casualties in JEM-held areas, while JEM's involvement drew criticism for prolonging inter-militia rivalries rooted in the Darfur conflict's legacy.^[22] Despite these costs, the alliance shifted momentum toward SAF in Darfur by late 2024, as JEM's ideological opposition to RSF—viewed as a continuation of Janjaweed militias—aligned with pragmatic security imperatives over prior rebel grievances against Khartoum.^[65]

Controversies and Criticisms

Alleged Human Rights Violations and Atrocities

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has faced allegations of committing human rights abuses against civilians during its insurgency in Sudan, including attacks on villages, killings, looting, and abductions, as documented by U.S. government assessments attributing such violence directly to the group under leader Khalil Ibrahim.^[69] These actions contributed to civilian suffering in Darfur, with rebels like JEM accused of targeting communities perceived as aligned with government forces, though on a smaller scale compared to state-sponsored militias.^[70] JEM has been repeatedly cited in United Nations reports for the recruitment and use of child soldiers, a violation of international humanitarian law, with thousands of children incorporated into opposition armed groups in Sudan, including JEM, as early as 2003-2008.^[71] The group signed action plans in 2012 and later renewed commitments in 2016-2017 to prohibit underage recruitment, following UN pressure, but persisted in listings for these violations into recent years.^[72]^[73]^[74] During the 2008 Omdurman offensive, JEM forces advanced into urban areas, resulting in at least 34 reported civilian deaths amid clashes, prompting international calls to avoid endangering non-combatants.^[75]^[76] Factions associated with JEM have also been implicated in abductions of civilians and looting of livestock and property, exacerbating displacement and economic hardship in conflict zones.^[70] Such incidents, while not constituting the systematic ethnic cleansing attributed to government allies, breached protections for civilians under the Geneva Conventions, according to analyses of rebel conduct in Darfur.^[77]

Islamist Influences and National Security Threats

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) originated from cells formed by members of Sudan's National Islamic Front in 1993, reflecting early Islamist underpinnings tied to the regime's ideological networks before evolving into an armed opposition group seeking regime change.^[78] Founded in 2003 by Khalil Ibrahim, JEM has been characterized as a largely Islamist organization advocating for national reform, including elements of Islamic democracy, while addressing ethnic marginalization in Darfur.^[11] ^[3] Its manifesto, the "Black Book," critiques systemic imbalances under Islamist governance but draws on religious and ideological frameworks inherited from figures like Hassan al-Turabi, whose faction influenced JEM's formation as part of broader Islamist opposition dynamics in Sudan.^[79] JEM's financing has included support from Islamist diaspora networks, particularly Arab Islamists sympathetic to earlier Popular Congress Party elements, alongside Zaghawa tribal backers, enabling sustained operations despite resource constraints.^[1] ^[8] Under current leader Gibril Ibrahim since 2012, the group maintains historical Islamist-oriented leadership, with recent U.S. Treasury sanctions in September 2025 targeting Ibrahim and JEM for alliances with the Iranian-backed Al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade, an Islamist militia, amid efforts to facilitate weapons transfers and regional destabilization.^[66] ^[80] These ties underscore JEM's alignment with transnational Islamist actors, including Iranian proxies, despite its integration into Sudan's transitional government as finance minister since 2021.^[81] From a national security perspective, JEM's 2008 offensive on Omdurman, a Khartoum suburb, demonstrated its capacity to project force deep into central Sudan, killing over 30 people and prompting international concerns over escalation risks from non-state Islamist actors.^[82] In the ongoing 2023 civil war, JEM's shift to alliance with the Sudanese Armed Forces against the Rapid Support Forces has bolstered government lines in Darfur but raises long-term threats due to its ideological leanings and sanctioned partnerships, potentially obstructing ceasefires and enabling Iranian influence in the Horn of Africa.^[83] U.S. designations highlight JEM's role in countering regional stability efforts, as its Islamist networks facilitate arms flows and ideological extremism, complicating Sudan's governance and exposing vulnerabilities to proxy conflicts.^[66] ^[84]

Internal Divisions and Reliability as Allies

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has experienced multiple internal fractures since its formation in 2003, undermining its organizational cohesion. In March 2004, an early split occurred amid disagreements over strategy and leadership, with dissenting members forming splinter groups that weakened JEM's unified command structure.^[85] By late 2006, JEM divided into two main factions: the mainstream group under Khalil Ibrahim, which rejected the Darfur Peace Agreement, and the JEM-Peace Wing, which aligned with the accord and pursued negotiations with the Sudanese government.^[86] In September 2007, JEM Vice President Bahar Idriss Abu Garda defected, citing ideological and tactical differences, further fragmenting the movement's ranks.^[8] These divisions stemmed from ethnic clan rivalries, particularly the dominance of the Kobe Zaghawa subclan in leadership roles, as well as disputes over resource allocation and external alliances, such as ties to Chad.^[1] Leadership transitions exacerbated these tensions. Following Khalil Ibrahim's death in a Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) airstrike on December 24, 2011, his brother Gibril Ibrahim assumed chairmanship in January 2012, a move that intensified rifts with border-based commanders in North Darfur and Chad who resented the shift in power dynamics.^[1] Persistent clan-based grievances, including the imprisonment of certain cadres in South Sudan and exclusion from key positions, prompted additional defections, such as those linked to the Hamadein Zaghawa subgroup.^[1] More recently, on February 16, 2025, a JEM faction under Mohamed Bashara Yahya split from the group led by Suleiman Sandal, dissolving prior pacts and pledging direct support to the SAF to counter Rapid Support Forces (RSF) advances around El Fasher.^[87] Such recurrent schisms have reduced JEM's estimated fighting strength from several thousand in the mid-2000s to fragmented units totaling around 5,000-7,000 combatants by 2023.^[1] These internal divisions have raised persistent doubts about JEM's reliability as an ally, particularly in its 2023 alignment with the SAF against the RSF during the Sudanese civil war. Historical antagonism persists, as the SAF killed JEM founder Khalil Ibrahim in 2011, fostering deep mistrust that delayed formal cooperation until August 2023, when Gibril Ibrahim's faction abandoned neutrality to form a joint force with other Darfur groups.^[4] Analysts note that JEM's opportunistic shifts—from nationwide insurgency against Khartoum in the 2000s to signing the Juba Peace Agreement in October 2020, and then siding with the SAF—reflect pragmatic survival tactics rather than ideological consistency, complicating long-term partnerships.^[4] In El Fasher, while JEM units under Gibril Ibrahim contributed to SAF gains against RSF encirclement starting September 2024, concurrent factional splits like the Yahya group highlight ongoing fissiparous tendencies that could erode alliance effectiveness.^[88] Sudanese military officials and observers have expressed concerns over JEM's divided loyalties, given past defections and ethnic-based recruitment that prioritize Zaghawa interests over national objectives, potentially leading to renewed betrayals if battlefield fortunes shift.^[1] Despite operational successes, such as joint advances in North Darfur, JEM's history of internal purges and splintering underscores its vulnerability to collapse under pressure, limiting its value as a dependable partner in Sudan's fractured conflict landscape.^[65]

Current Status and Long-Term Impact

Political Incorporation and Gibril Ibrahim's Role

Following the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement on October 31, 2020, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), led by Gibril Ibrahim, achieved formal political incorporation into Sudan's transitional government structure, marking a shift from armed rebellion to participation in state institutions.^[58]^[62] The agreement allocated 40% of ministerial positions and legislative seats to signatory armed groups, including JEM, facilitating the integration of its cadres into the Sovereign Council and cabinet to promote power-sharing and devolution to peripheral regions like Darfur.^[89] This incorporation aimed to address marginalization grievances central to JEM's ideology since its founding in 2001, though implementation has been hampered by the 2023 civil war outbreak.^[62] Gibril Ibrahim, who assumed JEM chairmanship in 2012 after his brother Khalil's death, played a pivotal role in negotiating the Juba deal and leveraging it for political leverage.^[90] Appointed Minister of Finance and Economic Planning in February 2021, Ibrahim oversaw fiscal policy amid economic turmoil, including debt relief negotiations and austerity measures, while retaining command over JEM's military wing.^[81] His dual role enabled JEM to secure budgetary allocations for its forces and influence resource distribution to Darfur, though critics argue this entrenched factional patronage rather than broad reform.^[91] During the 2023 Sudanese civil war, Ibrahim aligned JEM with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the Rapid Support Forces, positioning the group as a key ally in SAF-controlled areas and preserving its ministerial foothold.^[4] By July 2025, Ibrahim retained his finance portfolio in a reconfigured SAF-backed cabinet, reflecting JEM's sustained incorporation despite ongoing conflict and partial Juba implementation.^[92] However, U.S. sanctions imposed on September 12, 2025, targeted Ibrahim and affiliated militias for alleged Iranian ties, including arms transfers and financial dealings, complicating JEM's international standing and highlighting tensions between its political gains and external alignments.^[93]^[66] Ibrahim's leadership has thus centralized JEM's influence within the SAF ecosystem, enabling veto power over peace processes favoring rivals like the holdout Sudan Liberation Movement factions, but risking isolation if broader reconciliation falters.^[94]

Effects on Darfur Stability and Sudanese Governance

The Juba Peace Agreement of October 3, 2020, facilitated the Justice and Equality Movement's (JEM) partial integration into Sudan's transitional structures, with leader Gibril Ibrahim appointed Minister of Finance on February 22, 2021, later shifting to roles including Justice Minister.^[95] ^[96] This inclusion sought to stabilize Darfur through power-sharing, security reforms, and representation for marginalized groups, addressing root causes like political exclusion and resource disputes that fueled the 2003 rebellion initiated by JEM attacks on government targets.^[97] ^[63] Despite these intentions, incomplete implementation of the agreement has perpetuated instability in Darfur, with ongoing inter-communal violence, factional splits within JEM, and failure to achieve disarmament allowing armed groups to retain influence.^[63] Reports indicate that post-agreement dynamics enabled "conflict entrepreneurs" from Darfur-based movements, including JEM elements, to exploit governance vacuums, exacerbating displacement affecting over 2 million people and hindering humanitarian access.^[63] ^[98] In the Sudanese civil war erupting April 15, 2023, JEM's alliance with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensified fighting in Darfur, where RSF captured key areas like El Fasher by mid-2023, leading to ethnic massacres and famine risks rather than resolution.^[99] ^[100] Gibril Ibrahim publicly attributed Darfur violence to both SAF and RSF actions, yet JEM's military engagements prolonged the conflict, undermining stability claims by former rebels who argue their involvement is essential but evidence shows fragmented outcomes.^[100] ^[96] On Sudanese governance, JEM's cabinet roles introduced Darfuri perspectives but highlighted integration challenges, as armed groups' retention of forces fostered a hybrid military-civilian system prone to coups and breakdowns.^[68] The June 2025 dissolution of the caretaker government drew JEM condemnation as a Juba violation, signaling eroded trust and weakened transitional institutions amid war, with no verifiable progress toward federal reforms or equitable resource allocation in Darfur.^[101] ^[63] Overall, JEM's post-2020 trajectory has yielded marginal governance inclusion at the cost of sustained insecurity, as causal links from non-disarmament to factional violence persist without empirical stabilization metrics.^[102]

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Jul 11, 2025 · Gibril Ibrahim, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), kept his position as Finance Minister. Mohamed Kortikela Saleh, a leader in ...
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Apr 4, 2017 · He deplored the numerous reports of human rights violations, particularly attacks against internally displaced persons, calling for the safe ...
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