Advisor to Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, Pasha Tabik, has responded to the defection of field commander Ali Rizqallah, known as Al-Savanna, saying the move was “expected” amid what he described as the natural evolution of armed movements during prolonged conflicts in Sudan.
Tabik said such movements typically go through phases of shifting loyalties, but that these changes do not alter their broader political or military objectives.
He stressed that the departure of individual members would not affect the RSF’s strategic direction or its operational capacity on the ground.
According to him, personal motivations or outside incentives behind defections are unlikely to be sustainable within what he called a broader “framework of radical change.”
His comments came after a video released on 11 May 2026, in which Al-Savanna announced his defection from the RSF. In the recording, he said his decision was driven by a belief that the war should end and that stability must be urgently restored.
He also appealed to Sudanese citizens both inside the country and abroad, calling for unity and a return to peace across all regions.
Meanwhile, Darfur-based activists said an RSF unit, acting on orders linked to Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, attempted to confiscate weapons from forces under Al-Savanna’s command.
