Sudan: Rapid Support Forces officers defect to regular army

A series of high-profile defections from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to the Sudanese regular army has been reported in 2026. Most recently, Major General Moussa Ali Ahmad, also known as Moussa Khamsine, defected on August 20 with over 315 men and approximately 50 armed vehicles. Khamsine, who previously fought in North Darfur, cited disappointment with the RSF’s project to establish a new state as a primary reason for his departure.

These defections are part of a broader trend involving several key figures. Major General al-Nour al-Qobba, a prominent defector from April, assisted Khamsine in his transition. Additionally, Fares al-Nur, a former advisor to RSF commander Mohamad Hamdane Dagalo (Hemedti) and a member of the RSF’s parallel presidential council, has resigned from both his advisory role and his position as Governor of Darfur.

Other notable departures include Colonel Ali Rizkallah, who defected in May with 5,000 fighters via South Sudan. While these defections provide insights into the internal power dynamics and regional connections of the RSF, analysts are examining whether these departures represent a significant erosion of the paramilitary group’s strength or are isolated incidents.