SUMMARY

NRF (National Redemption Front) was a short-lived alliance of rebel groups operating in Darfur, Sudan. Essentially formed as an umbrella movement of non-signatories to the Darfur Peace Agreement of May 2006, the NRF publicly announced its creation on 30 June 2006 in Asmara, Eritrea, where several Darfuri rebel groups held offices.

The NRF consisted of three rebel groups: Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance, JEM and SLM/A – Unity (then known as G-19), which was a faction of former commanders that splintered from the SLM/A. The three groups all opposed the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) and the founding declaration of the NRF included six principles, the first being to uphold Sudan as a multicultural, multi-religious and multiethnic country where diversity constitutes the basis of citizenship for individuals, and unity of our nation. The declaration also called upon all organizations of marginalized communities and other political opposition forces to join NRF as an instrument to realize the principles of the movement.

The NRF was led by Ahmad Ibrahim Diraij, who was known for his secular and democratic objectives. He was leader and founder of the Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance, an early founder of the SLM/A when it was still named Darfur Liberation Front and the former Governor of Darfur. Diraij founded the NRF together with Dr. Kalil Ibrahim Mohamed, leader of JEM, Mr. Khamis Abdalla Abakr and Dr. Sharif Harir.

Due to shifting alliances, rebel fragmentation and commanders leaving their factions, it was only possible to verify that, at a minimum, the NRF had more than one thousand troops in 2006. Nonetheless, during its brief existence, the NRF became the strongest armed group in Darfur and gained control of northern Darfur by August 2006. Raids crossing the border between Chad and Sudan were also carried out by the group. Following the peak of its activity in 2006, the NRF disintegrated as members left to join or form other rebel movements.

Although the full extent of support given by the Government of Chad has not been possible to confirm, it was reported that the Government of Chad provided the NRF with most of its weaponry. This mirrored the behavior of the Sudanese government towards Chadian rebel groups, which was perceived as an attempt to either overthrow the regime or force it to cooperate with Sudan on their terms.

The Government of Eritrea was also reported to have backed the individual groups that formed the NRF. However, beyond permitting the group to maintain its base of operations in Asmara, a stronger support link has not been confirmed.