Following the attack, a government delegation to the area led by Minister of Defence Major General Burma Fadlallah Nasir was presented with a choice by native administration leaders: either provide security for the Arab Baggara communities of South Darfur and South Kordofan, or these communities would request such guarantees from the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and consequently join the civil war against the government.

Unable to redeploy the demoralised and overstretched Sudanese military in southern Sudan, the delegation made a decision—without the authorization of the national Constituent Assembly—to arm the Baggara.

Truckloads of ammunition and light weapons, mostly AK-47s and G3 rifles, were distributed directly to members of allied tribes, specifically the Rizeigat and the Misseriya Humr, through native administrative structures and leaders.

[4] During the current civil war, the PDF was reorganised under Kafi Tayara and fought alongside the SAF in South Kordofan against the SPLM-N and the Rapid Support Forces.

[5] The force had close links with the National Islamic Front associated with former president Omar al-Bashir, and was originally formed as a dedicated Islamist militia.