Armed Groups in Sudan's War: Interview with the al-Bara' bin Malik Corps

The al-Bara’ bin Malik Corps, named for one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad who was renowned for participating in the Prophet’s military expeditions and then the subsequent Islamic conquests, is one of the main auxiliary groups of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Sudan’s ongoing civil war, which is being fought between the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces and has yet to see a decisive victory for either side.

Below is an interview I conducted with a representative of the al-Bara’ bin Malik Corps, discussing its origins, role in Sudan’s war, the question of links to the Muslim Brotherhood, whether Sudan is heading towards a partition or some kind of peace settlement between the two warring sides, and the question of normalisation of relations between Sudan and Israel. The interview is edited and condensed for clarity.

Emblem of al-Bara’ bin Malik Corps. On bottom: “At your service, Messenger of God.”

Q: When was the al-Bara’ bin Malik Corps formed and for what reasons? Was the corps a brigade originally?