318 RSF Fighters, Four Commanders Defect To Sudanese Army

Hundreds of RSF fighters, including four commanders, have defected and joined Sudan's army, according to military authorities. The latest group includes 318 personnel and up to 50 combat vehicles. The defections come after another 300 RSF members reportedly joined the army last week, as Sudan's war continues to cause widespread deaths and displacement.

Hundreds of fighters from Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), including several commanders, have defected from the group and joined the Sudanese Armed Forces, according to the Sudanese army.
The latest group comprises 318 personnel, including four commanders, along with as many as 50 combat vehicles, according to a statement issued by authorities in Al Dabba locality in Sudan's Northern State.
Border Guards commander Mohamed Saleh Younes said the army's doors remained open to RSF members willing to return to the armed forces.

DEFECTORS CITE INTERNAL WEAKNESSES

Lieutenant-Colonel Musa Ali Ahmed, identified as the leader of the defectors, reportedly said the group decided to leave the RSF because of what he described as a lack of institutional structures within the paramilitary organisation.
He said their decision to join the army was motivated by the need to preserve Sudan's unity.
The latest defection follows another announcement last week that about 300 RSF personnel, including 21 commanders, had also left the paramilitary group and joined the army.

GROWING RSF DEFECTIONS

The Sudanese army says defections from the RSF have increased among both its military and political leadership.
Among prominent figures reported to have left the group are political adviser Fares Al Nour, field commander Ali Rizqallah and Major-General Al Nour Ahmed Adam.
The growing number of defections could affect the RSF's military capabilities and morale as fighting continues across several parts of Sudan.

WAR CONTINUES ACROSS SUDAN

The RSF and Sudanese army have been fighting since April 2023, when a power struggle between the two forces erupted into a full-scale conflict.
Heavy clashes have continued in Darfur, Blue Nile and the Kordofan regions, with both sides battling for control of strategic territory and major cities.
The conflict has created one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.
UN and international estimates indicate that tens of thousands of people have been killed and nearly 13 million displaced since the war began.

WHAT THE DEFECTIONS COULD MEAN

The latest defections could provide the Sudanese army with additional personnel, vehicles and battlefield knowledge while weakening the RSF's ranks.
However, the defections alone are unlikely to bring the conflict to an immediate end, as both sides retain significant military capabilities and continue to control territory in different parts of the country.
The developments nevertheless point to growing pressure within the RSF as the war enters another prolonged phase, while Sudanese authorities continue efforts to regain control of territory held by the paramilitary group.