Sudan army integrates former RSF commander Ali Rizkallah amid civil war

The Sudanese Armed Forces have incorporated Ali Rizkallah, a former senior commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) known as “al‑Savannah,” into its ranks. The move follows a series of high‑level defections that the army says will weaken the RSF by exploiting tribal divisions within the paramilitary group.

Human‑rights groups and victims in Darfur have condemned the integration, arguing it allows alleged perpetrators of mass killings, sexual violence and looting to evade accountability. A Darfur resident, Halima Ismail, recalled an attack by Rizkallah’s forces in 2024 that forced her family to flee and left her with lasting injuries. Legal activists note that more than 240 cases have been filed against RSF collaborators, but prosecutions remain scarce.

Other RSF commanders, such as al‑Nour Guba, have also defected, claiming they seek to avoid justice rather than escape it. Analysts warn that while the defections may provide the army with intelligence and manpower, the strategy could deepen communal tensions and hinder prospects for transitional justice in Sudan’s protracted civil war.