A former senior commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been transferred to a military hospital in Omdurman after his health deteriorated while being held by Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) military intelligence, according to his family.
Lieutenant General Ali Al-Naseeh Al-Qala was taken to the Military Medical Hospital late Sunday after suffering breathing difficulties and problems with mobility for more than a week, a family source told Sudan Tribune.
His relatives said military intelligence officials had delayed responding to repeated requests for medical treatment despite his worsening condition.
Al-Qala, a former Sudanese army officer who helped establish the RSF and later served as its head of operations, has been in military intelligence custody since January 25, 2025.
He was arrested after SAF forces regained control of the Al-Jaili oil refinery north of Khartoum during fighting with the RSF.
His latest transfer to hospital is the third since his detention.
According to his family, Al-Qala previously developed a heart condition that required catheterisation and later suffered severe anaemia, which relatives attributed to inadequate nutrition while in custody.
The family said the former commander has not been formally charged or brought before a court since his arrest more than 18 months ago.
They described his continued detention without judicial proceedings as a human rights violation and held SAF commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan responsible for Al-Qala’s safety and wellbeing.
Sudan’s military and military intelligence have not publicly commented on his latest health deterioration or provided details about the legal grounds for his continued detention.
Al-Qala was once among the most senior figures within the RSF establishment, making his prolonged detention by military intelligence particularly significant as the war between SAF and the RSF continues.
