The Sudanese army announced on Sunday that a commander from its rival, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has defected along with some of his troops, marking the first such defection by a senior RSF figure since the conflict between the two sides began over 18 months ago.
The RSF, which has seized control of large parts of Sudan during the conflict, did not immediately comment on the reported defection. The United Nations has labeled the conflict as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with widespread displacement and suffering across the country.
Supporters of the army shared photos online that they claimed showed Abuagla Keikal, a former army officer who rose to become the RSF’s top commander in the southeastern state of El Gezira, after his defection. The Sudanese military attributed Keikal’s decision to his opposition to what it described as the RSF’s “destructive agenda.” However, they did not provide additional details, and no public statement or video from Keikal has been released.
The conflict, which began in April 2023, has displaced over 10 million people, pushing parts of Sudan into extreme hunger and famine. The fighting erupted when long-standing tensions between the RSF and the Sudanese military escalated into open warfare. This followed years of power-sharing between the two forces after they staged a joint coup in 2021, ending an attempt to transition to civilian rule two years after the ouster of long-time autocrat Omar al-Bashir. The conflict has also attracted foreign powers, providing both sides with material support and further complicating the situation.
