Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) will reportedly maintain their military presence in Saudi Arabia after diplomatic intervention by regional coalition members persuaded commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, to reverse a planned withdrawal.
Several Arab coalition countries, including Saudi Arabia, contacted Dagalo and urged him to reconsider the decision, local Sudanese media reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the discussions.
The contacts reportedly resulted in Dagalo instructing RSF personnel stationed in the kingdom to remain at their positions until further notice.
An RSF member serving in Saudi Arabia told local Sudanese media that coalition commanders had also paid the troops four months of outstanding salaries.
The reported agreement follows weeks of tensions between RSF leaders and Riyadh over Saudi Arabia’s public criticism of the force’s conduct in Sudan.
The dispute intensified in August after Saudi Ambassador to the United Nations Abdulaziz Al-Wasil condemned alleged RSF attacks on civilians during a Security Council meeting.
Al-Wasil accused the force of carrying out attacks that killed civilians and damaged humanitarian facilities and aid convoys in North and South Kordofan.
Following the remarks, RSF personnel reportedly withdrew from several forward positions near the Saudi-Yemeni border and regrouped in military camps, while their leadership considered ending its participation in the Saudi-led coalition.
On September 9, local Sudanese media reported that Dagalo remained committed to withdrawing his forces despite mediation efforts by coalition members.
RSF commanders in Saudi Arabia had reportedly been instructed to begin preparations for departure, with some personnel already moved from forward positions into two camps.
Thursday’s reported reversal would keep an estimated 5,000 RSF personnel in Saudi Arabia, including troops stationed near the Yemeni border and others based at military camps inside the kingdom.
The reported troop strength, salary payments and decision to suspend the withdrawal have not been independently verified. No official RSF or TASIS statement confirming the agreement was found as of September 24.
