Rapid Support Forces defections: 45 fighters, including commanders, join the Sudanese army

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

revealed Press reports A Sudanese source reported that a new group of 45 fighters, fully equipped with their military gear, including prominent field commanders, have joined the ranks of the Sudanese army, in a new indication of escalating divisions within the Rapid Support Forces.

The pace of defections is increasing

The reports indicated that the breakaway group included Othman Al-Nour, Younis Idris, and Ali Al-Zein, and that they arrived on the outskirts of Omdurman from the city of Bara, in a move that reflects the increasing pace of defections within the Rapid Support Forces in recent times.

According to the sources, the group was received by the Sudanese Armed Forces, amid assessments that this step may reflect important field developments on the ground, especially in light of the continued clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces in several areas.

Ongoing military escalation

This development comes at a time when the Sudanese arena is witnessing a continuous military escalation, with increasing internal and external pressures to contain the crisis, which makes any new splits within the warring parties an influential factor in the balance of power during the next stage.

The Sudanese arena is witnessing remarkable shifts in the course of the war that has been raging since April 2023, with the increasing defection 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 recent 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.

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.