Sudan RSF commander Abu Lulu back in combat despite RSF denial of release

Reuters investigators say Brigadier General al‑Fateh Abdullah Idris, known as Abu Lulu, a Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander implicated in war‑crimes videos from the Al‑Fashir offensive, has been released from detention and sighted on the battlefield in Kordofan. Multiple sources, including Sudanese intelligence and RSF officers, reported seeing him in combat in March, and a Chadian officer said RSF leaders wanted his return to boost morale.

The RSF‑led Sudanese government issued a statement denying any release, insisting Abu Lulu remains in custody pending trial before a special military court. He was detained in late October 2025 after videos showed him executing unarmed civilians, prompting UN sanctions and international condemnation. The dispute highlights ongoing accountability challenges amid Sudan’s three‑year civil war, which has caused one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.