Tensions are escalating between Abu Aqila Kikel, commander of the Sudan Shield militia, and Al-Misbah Abu Zeid Talha, leader of the Al-Baraa bin Malik militia, in what appears to be an emerging split within the armed groups fighting alongside the General al-Burhan’s army (SAF).
The dispute became visible during Al-Misbah’s recent tour of villages in Al-Jazira state, where both commanders attended a public event in the village of Sarhan but conspicuously avoided any form of greeting or public interaction, according to local sources. The incident drew attention from attendees and raised questions about the nature and depth of the rift.
Sources said mediation attempts by tribal chiefs and community elders failed to reconcile the two sides. Al-Misbah appeared to reference the dispute in a speech delivered during the event, telling the audience: “Learn to forgive… but do not learn to forget,” while Kikel was present in the hall.
Both militias are operating alongside the SAF in the conflict that erupted in April 2023, but they are widely viewed as pursuing divergent objectives. The Al-Baraa bin Malik militia, which is linked to Sudan’s Islamist movement, is believed to be working to re-establish Islamist control over the state through its military alignment with the SAF.
The Sudan Shield militia, led by Kikel, is instead seen as seeking material and institutional gains, including money and government posts, in exchange for its participation in the fighting. The group had previously fought alongside the Rapid Support Forces before defecting to the SAF.
The visible breakdown in relations between the two commanders underscores growing strains within the SAF’s militia coalition, as rival armed groups compete for influence, rewards, and political leverage amid a protracted war.
