Sudan’s military announced on Sunday that a high-ranking commander from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Abuagla Keikal, had defected along with some of his troops.
This marks the first major defection since the conflict between the two factions began over 18 months ago. The RSF, which controls large swaths of the country, has yet to comment on the development.
Supporters of the army shared photos online allegedly showing Keikal, a former army officer who became the RSF’s top commander in El Gezira, after his defection. The military stated that Keikal made the move due to the RSF’s “destructive agenda,” though no further details or statements from Keikal himself were provided.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has displaced over 10 million people, plunged parts of Sudan into extreme hunger, and drawn international involvement. The fighting between the RSF and the army, once allies after their 2021 coup, has turned Sudan into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises according to the UN.
