Of the various armed groups fighting on the side of the Sudanese armed forces in the ongoing civil war, some groups are newer formations whereas others have roots going back decades. One prominent group of the latter sort is the ‘al-Barq al-Khatif’ (‘Flash of Lightning’) forces.
Recently, I was able to conduct with Ibn Omar, who commands ‘al-Barq al-Khatif’. The discussion focused on the origin of the formation, its efforts alongside the Sudanese armed forces against the Rapid Support Forces, and the group’s vision for the Sudanese state.
Q: When was al-Barq al-Khatif formed and what were its origins exactly?
A: The al-Barq al-Khatif battalion was established at the end of 1998, and it is affiliated with the reserve forces in the Sudanese armed forces. It has no particular origins, because most of its members are [university] students and graduates with a variety of specialities, who are only mobilised in the buildings of the reserve service administration when a town is occupied by rebels: for example when Torit [in South Sudan] was occupied in 2002, Heglig in 2012 [on the border with South Sudan] and Abu Karshola in 2013. After the towns are liberated, their weapons are handed over to the army command and those mobilised return home to continue their ordinary in whatever occupation they have.
Q: Since the outbreak of the war with the Rapid Support militias, in what battles has al-Barq al-Khatif participated?
After the towns are liberated, their weapons are handed over to the army command and those mobilised return home to continue their ordinary in whatever occupation they have.
A: The al-Barq al-Khatif battalion has participated in most of the battles after the general commander issued the call for the mobilisation of the armed forces. It has participated on the Omdurman front, in the battle of the armoured vehicles base [south of Khartoum] and the al-Gaili front [east of the Nile river and north of Khartoum]. It has participated in a larger sense on the al-Manaqil front that liberated al-Jazira province [south of Khartoum] and also Jabal Awliya. In addition it fought alongside Mutaharrak al-Shahid Fawzi [an armed formation] which liberated Umm Rawaba [southwest of Khartoum] and al-Rahad and broke the siege of al-Abyad.
Q: From which regions does the group have members? Also are there personnel from the ranks of the Islamic parties such as the Islamic Movement?
A: The al-Barq al-Khatif battalion has members from all regions of Sudan, because the battalion was established from university students in Khartoum. Therefore you find they are from most of Sudan’s provinces. Membership of the battalion is open to all Sudanese who want to defend their land and honour in their various sects and parties. Most of the Sudanese people have an Islamic orientation.
Q: What kind of state do you want? For example a secular democratic state or an Islamic state?
A: The type of state we want is an Islamic, sovereign state, based on justice and the rule of law. A state ruled by those of the Sudanese people who possess relevant competencies.
Q: How do you assess the course of the war against the Rapid Support militias? Why have these militias recently advanced?
The international community, Arab League and African Union must stand with the Sudanese people in their trial and understand the nature of this battle.
A: By the permission of God Almighty, the Sudanese armed forces will be victorious in this battle imposed upon them, because all the Sudanese people are behind their armed forces, except for the collaborators, criminals and some of those bound by narrow tribal connections with these militias. The war is larger than the Rapid Support militias because the hard power of these militias has been broken, but a regional state that has ambitions in Sudan has recruited mercenaries from a number of states and supplied them with weapons, drones, armoured vehicles, heavy artillery and guided missiles.
Q: What’s your message to the international community? Why should the world support the Sudanese armed forces’ efforts against these militias?
A: Our message to the international community is that the Sudanese people will stand behind their armed forces to the last soldier, and we will not lay aside our weapons until we are sure of the disappearance of this militia that has occupied our homes and violated citizens’ honour, and killed, displaced, plundered and stolen. The international community should know that this militia’s harm is greater than its benefit, and it does not recognise law or customs. It only knows the language of blood and killing. The international community, Arab League and African Union must stand with the Sudanese people in their trial and understand the nature of this battle: it is a battle against the Sudanese people and it is a coup against authority by force of arms, and its impacts may spread to neighbouring states and help militias in other states, contributing to the spread of terrorism and organised crime.
Published originally on December 17, 2025.
