Since April 2023, Sudan has been in a brutal conflict between the national army and the rebel group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The fighting has led to a huge humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands of civilians killed and more than 11 million people forced to flee their homes. The situation has drawn the attention of the United Nations, which describes it as one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
However, a major shift in the conflict happened recently. On Sunday, the Sudanese army made an announcement that could change the course of the war. For the first time since the fighting began over 18 months ago, a top commander from the RSF has defected to the army. This commander, named Abuagla Keikal, used to be an officer in the army before joining the RSF and rising to the top as the RSF’s commander in the southeastern region of El Gezira. He didn’t come alone—Keikal brought a group of his soldiers with him.
The news of this defection quickly spread online, with footage showing Keikal with his new army allies. While the RSF has not yet commented on his defection, the army is celebrating this as a victory, saying Keikal left the RSF because of its “destructive agenda.” Although Keikal himself hasn’t made any public statements about his decision, the army’s message was clear: they welcomed Keikal and his men with open arms, and they are calling on other rebels to switch sides, promising them amnesty if they do so.
In a statement, the Sudanese army reaffirmed this offer, saying they are ready to forgive any rebel who chooses to return and support the country’s national forces. They are urging RSF members to come to the nearest army base if they want to defect.
Meanwhile, the RSF has captured parts of Sudan during the ongoing conflict, but they’ve remained silent about the defection. This war has taken a heavy toll on the country, not only by killing thousands of people but also by pushing millions to the brink of starvation and collapsing the economy. It has also raised concerns globally, with regional stability under threat.
Despite multiple ceasefires since April 2023, no lasting peace has been achieved. With this latest defection of a high-ranking RSF commander, there is hope that the tides of the conflict may be shifting. But the question remains—will more rebels follow in Keikal’s footsteps, or will the war rage on?
