RSF Fighters Defect and Join Sudanese Army Amid Kordofan Setbacks

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Al Mayadeen English

4 Aug 2026 17:32

Defections within Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces widen as fighters surrender to the army amid growing battlefield pressure in North Kordofan.

Divisions within Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are deepening as the group faces increasing battlefield pressure in the Kordofan region, with a group of its fighters surrendering to the Sudanese army along with military equipment in their possession.

Media reports said that three field commanders from North Kordofan State led the breakaway group, without disclosing their names or specifying the exact number of fighters who left the RSF.

The surrender took place in the Bara area of North Kordofan State, according to the Sudanese army, which said the group joined government forces following recent battlefield developments in the area.

Images circulated on platforms affiliated with the Sudanese army showed former RSF commander Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, known as “Al-Nour Al-Qubba,” receiving the group that surrendered, months after he defected from the RSF and joined the army.

North Kordofan gains reshape battlefield dynamics

The latest defections come after the Sudanese army and its allies made advances in North Kordofan and regained control of the strategic road linking Omdurman with El Obeid, the state capital, easing pressure on the city and affecting the RSF’s supply lines.

The North Kordofan axis holds major military importance due to its location connecting the capital Khartoum with Darfur and Kordofan, as well as serving as a key route for the movement of troops, weapons, and supplies.

The recent defections indicate growing challenges facing the RSF leadership in maintaining the cohesion of its units, particularly amid continued fighting, expanding battlefronts, and a decline in its ability to retain some positions in central Sudan.

Observers believe the defections reflect accumulated disputes over the distribution of positions, resources, and field leadership roles, in addition to tensions among the tribal components on which the RSF relies for recruitment. The Sudanese army is attempting to capitalize on these divisions by opening the door for RSF fighters willing to surrender their weapons and join government forces, as part of a strategy aimed at weakening the group’s military and social structure.

RSF leader tells fighters they are 'unleashed' after army gains

The commander of the RSF, Mohammed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo, declared that his fighters were "unleashed" following battlefield setbacks in North Kordofan, where the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) recently regained control of the strategic highway linking Khartoum to the regional hub of El-Obeid.

AFP reports that his statement came a day after the RSF lost control of a key section of the 400-kilometre route connecting the Sudanese capital with North Kordofan's largest city, marking a significant advance for the army as fighting continues across multiple fronts.