A senior commander in Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has announced his defection to the Sudanese military, reportedly taking around 300 officers and soldiers and 30 combat vehicles with him.
Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed Azraq al-Fanjari, who identified himself as commander of the RSF’s Special Tasks Group, announced his decision in a video circulated on Thursday, describing Sudan’s ongoing conflict as a “futile war” that had devastated the country.
Fanjari said his decision followed a reassessment of his participation in the conflict and its consequences for civilians, declaring that he was relinquishing all military responsibilities within the RSF.
He also apologised to Sudanese families who had lost relatives, been displaced or suffered during the fighting, while distancing himself from alleged abuses committed against civilians.
Calling for an end to the conflict, Fanjari urged fellow RSF members to reconsider their positions and join the Sudanese Armed Forces, arguing that continued fighting offered no future for the country.
Regional media reported that approximately 300 personnel and 30 armed vehicles accompanied the commander, although the figures could not be independently verified.
The announcement follows other reported defections among RSF-aligned forces. On October 3, a group affiliated with the Sudan Liberation Forces Gathering, led by al-Tahir Hajar, reportedly joined the army in North Darfur with 106 fighters, including 18 officers.
The RSF has not publicly confirmed the scale of Fanjari’s reported departure, and its immediate impact on military operations remains unclear.
