Sudan’s military leadership has reportedly removed Al-Misbah Abu Zaid Talha from command of the Al-Baraa bin Malik Battalion and arranged for him to undergo specialised military training in China, according to sources familiar with the decision.
The move marks a significant leadership change within one of the most prominent Islamist armed groups supporting Sudan’s military in its war against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Sources said the decision to relieve Abu Zaid of his command was accompanied by arrangements designed to keep him within the military leadership’s sphere of influence.
The training programmes reportedly cover advanced military technology, defence manufacturing and operational planning.
According to the reports, Abu Zaid has already left Sudan alongside a group of members of the Islamist movement affiliated with the military.
The delegation was reportedly dispatched through Sudan’s Military Industry Corporation, although details of the Chinese institutions overseeing the training have not been disclosed.
The reported leadership change comes amid indications of tensions between Abu Zaid and senior figures within Sudan’s Islamist movement over his relationship with military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Abu Zaid has been a prominent figure in the Al-Baraa bin Malik Battalion, which has fought alongside Sudan’s military since the conflict erupted in April 2023.
The European Union imposed sanctions on Abu Zaid in January 2026 over his involvement in the conflict and his command responsibility for serious human rights violations attributed to the battalion.
Neither Sudan’s military leadership nor the Al-Baraa bin Malik Battalion has publicly confirmed Abu Zaid’s reported dismissal or provided details of his assignment in China.
