Managing the Collapse of the Militia… The Final Stage in the Battle to Restore the State

Adel Al-Rifai Abu Al-Hassan
The major victories achieved by the Sudanese Armed Forces on the battlefield mark a pivotal stage in the battle to restore the state, but they do not mean the mission is complete. Wars do not end merely when battles are decided; they are completed by the state’s ability to manage the post-victory phase and turn military achievements into security and stability, while rebuilding institutions capable of protecting the country.
The Sudanese Armed Forces have fought an unconventional confrontation against an organised rebellion that had substantial support and capabilities, including military equipment, logistical support, modern communications, technical expertise, and advanced weapons that appeared on the battlefields.
The world has witnessed the scale of the support received by this militia, from operating drones and employing modern weapons to recruiting and deceiving children into joining the war, making the confrontation more complex and dangerous.
Despite these challenges, the Sudanese Armed Forces have managed the conflict with a high degree of professionalism and competence. Through planning, patience, and military acumen, they have overcome the advantages the militia had relied on and made significant progress toward restoring the state.
As the militia’s capabilities decline and its ranks fracture, the country is entering a new phase that requires informed and strategic management. The collapse of armed groups does not automatically mean that their consequences will disappear; rather, it may bring new risks if they are not addressed with wisdom and firmness.
Conflicts often feature a final-stage retreat in which some militias resort to desperate attempts to prove their continued existence or regain lost positions. Such operations are not necessarily based on military logic, but instead on adventurism, revenge and the desire to create as much chaos as possible. One of the state’s most important responsibilities at this stage is therefore to prepare for these possibilities, raise readiness to protect civilians, and prevent any attempt to exploit the transitional phase to prolong the people’s suffering.
Managing the militia’s collapse is an extension of managing the war itself. It requires consolidating security, preventing lawlessness, protecting civilians, and eliminating any manifestations of looting and violence in areas that have suffered from the presence of these armed groups. The collection and securing of weapons and ammunition is also a national priority, because the proliferation of arms after wars can lead to the emergence of outlaw groups that threaten citizens’ security and undermine efforts to rebuild the state.
The state’s responsibility is not confined to security. It also extends to restoring its institutions to working order, bringing legal and civilian authorities back into operation, restoring essential services, creating conditions for the return of displaced people, and beginning the reconstruction of areas affected by the war.
At the same time, Sudanese society bears a major responsibility during the national recovery phase. The war has left deep wounds. Many families have lost loved ones, property and livelihoods, while others have suffered abduction, torture and killing. The coming phase therefore requires responsible national discourse that helps heal these wounds and places the national interest above political and social divisions.
Everyone must also understand that crimes should be attributed to their perpetrators, and that no social group or tribe should be held responsible for the actions of individuals who took up arms and committed violations. Accountability must be based on the act committed and legal responsibility, not on affiliation.
Preserving the unity of Sudanese society and repairing the social fabric are fundamental parts of the battle to restore the state. Genuine peace is achieved not merely by ending the fighting, but by rebuilding trust among citizens and preventing the consequences of war from developing into continuing conflicts.
Finally, what I have written in this article is not intended as advice or instruction to officials, who are better placed to understand what their national duty requires. Rather, it is motivated by concern for Sudan’s future and by the desire to see the process of restoring the state brought to completion. As Almighty God says in the Qur’an:
“He said, ‘Do you not believe?’ He said, ‘Yes, but so that my heart may be reassured.’”
These words are filled with hope and optimism that the sacrifices made will ultimately bear fruit through the wise management of victory, and that this phase will mark the beginning of building a strong and stable state.
States are measured not only by their ability to win wars, but by their ability to manage the period that follows victory. Today, having demonstrated its ability to manage the battle, the Sudanese Armed Forces face the next challenge: completing the victory and managing its aftermath with wisdom and responsibility, so that the end of the rebellion does not become the beginning of a new period of suffering, but rather the beginning of a phase in which the state is restored and the values of security, the rule of law and stability become firmly established.

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