Public anger over the Sudanese army's welcoming of Rapid Support Forces defectors

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

The Sudanese scene is witnessing remarkable transformations in its course War The circle has been in this state since April 2023, with increasing defections of prominent leaders from the Rapid Support Forces and their joining the ranks of the army, in a move that observers see as strengthening the position of the armed forces, while on the other hand it is provoking a widespread wave of anger among the victims and those affected.

In the latest of these developments, authorities in the capital Khartoum received Ali Rizqallah, a commander of the Rapid Support Forces known by the nickname “Al-Safana,” and granted him a military uniform and rank within the army, after years of fighting within the ranks of the paramilitary forces.

High-level defections reshape the balance of power

The pro-military government welcomed the move, viewing it as part of a series of high-level defections that have reshaped the balance of power on the ground. However, this welcome was met with sharp criticism from citizens and activists, who expressed concerns that these commanders would escape accountability for serious violations allegedly committed during the conflict.

Halima Ismail, a resident of West Darfur, said she could not forgive the Rapid Support Forces, adding that the violence she witnessed was unforgivable. She recounted witnessing an armed attack on a village where she had sought refuge in 2024, during which fighters fired shots into the air to terrorize civilians.

Darfur is the region most affected by the conflict.

The Darfur region is one of the areas most affected by the conflict, as several cities, including El Fasher, have witnessed waves of bloody violence, amid accusations against the Rapid Support Forces of committing widespread violations, which the forces deny.

The repercussions of the war extended to other areas, with residents in the Kordofan region expressing their discontent over the appointment of defecting commanders to positions within the army, despite accusations of looting private property. A merchant in the city of Al-Nuhud said he intends to file a lawsuit against Rizqallah, accusing units under his command of seizing goods from his warehouses.

In contrast, some of the defecting leaders defended themselves. Al-Nur Goba, a former Rapid Support Forces commander who joined the army, stressed that anyone proven to be involved in crimes must be held accountable, denying that his defection was an escape from justice.

The issue of accounting is complex.

But experts believe that the issue of accountability is complicated while the war continues. Mohammed Salah El-Din, a member of the Emergency Lawyers organization, said that addressing these issues requires a comprehensive framework for transitional justice, rather than piecemeal solutions.

While cases are being brought against those accused of collaborating with the Rapid Support Forces, some of which have resulted in death sentences, honoring defected leaders raises questions about double standards in the application of justice.

Analysts believe that by absorbing the defectors, the army seeks to exploit internal divisions within the Rapid Support Forces, especially in light of tribal tensions among its components, which may contribute to weakening it on the ground.

As the war continues, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives and displacing millions, the issue of justice and accountability remains one of the most prominent challenges facing Sudan in the post-conflict phase, given the deep wounds left by years of violence and division.