Popular Defence Forces
| Popular Defence Forces | |
|---|---|
| File:Emblem of the Popular Defence Force.svg
PDF Emblem.
|
|
| Active | 1989 - present |
| Country |  Sudan |
| Allegiance | National Congress (formerly the National Islamic Front) |
| Engagements | Second Sudanese Civil War Darfur War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Ali Ahmed Karti (Commander in the 1990s) |
The Popular Defence Forces is a paramilitary force of Sudan established by the 1989 Popular Defence Forces Act. Whilst a part of Sudan's military under international law due to being created by statute, the force is defined by the 1989 Act as being a semi-military force to be formed from Sudanese citizens.[1]
The force has close links with the National Islamic Front, and was originally formed as a dedicated Islamist militia. The force now largely operates as a reserve force for the Sudanese Armed Forces.[2]
In 2004, the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress estimated that the Popular Defence Forces consisted of 10,000 active members, with 85,000 reserves.[3] It has been deployed alongside regular army units against various rebel groups.
