OMDURMAN – A commander from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced his surrender to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) along with members of his unit in Omdurman, in the latest reported defection from the paramilitary force.
The commander, identified in the video as the deputy commander of RSF Group 291, said his unit had joined the army and urged other RSF fighters in Kordofan and Darfur to leave the force and surrender.
In footage reviewed by Sudan Now, the commander appeared alongside a group of fighters and said Group 291 was now with him. He also said other RSF personnel had previously defected to the army and described the armed forces and other state security bodies as ready to receive those who leave the RSF.
The number of fighters who surrendered with him, as well as the weapons and equipment handed over, could not be independently verified. The video did not provide detailed figures.
The reported surrender follows a series of defections from the RSF during 2026, including commanders and groups of fighters who later joined the army.
Among the higher-profile cases was the defection of Ahmed Adam al-Nour, known as Al-Nour al-Qubba, who left the RSF earlier this year and joined the army with members of his forces.
Another commander, Ali Rizqallah, known as Al-Savana, also announced his split from the RSF before later declaring his support for the army.
Earlier cases included Abu Aqla Keikel, who defected from the RSF in 2024 and joined the Sudanese Armed Forces.
The pace of defections increased during August, when reports said more than 300 fighters led by Brigadier Musa Khamsin moved into army-held areas before later reaching Omdurman.
At the end of August, around 200 additional fighters were reported to have arrived in Omdurman under the leadership of Abubakr Hamouda Dahloub, described as an RSF intelligence official in North Kordofan. The group was reported to have brought weapons and military vehicles.
The latest commander also called on RSF fighters in Kordofan and Darfur to abandon the force, while sharply criticizing RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, and his deputy Abdel Rahim Dagalo.
He accused the RSF leadership of exploiting fighters and said the army was prepared to receive those who surrender.
The commander also declared support for ongoing military operations by the SAF and allied forces.
The RSF did not immediately issue a public response to the latest reported surrender.
The Sudanese army has previously announced procedures to review, screen and integrate RSF defectors, including security and intelligence checks before assigning eligible fighters to military units.
Sovereign Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has also previously announced an amnesty for RSF members who leave the force and join the army.
The war between the SAF and RSF began in April 2023 and has since spread across Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan, with continued fighting accompanied by shifting alliances and reported defections from both sides.
