A group of Sudanese military personnel has reportedly defected to the Sudan Founding Alliance (TASIS), amid continuing fighting between the alliance and forces loyal to the military authorities in Port Sudan.
The personnel were received by commanders from Special Group 117 of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a leading component of TASIS, according to a report published by Blue News on Friday.
The report said the soldiers were welcomed at an undisclosed location identified as Area X, where RSF commanders announced that the group had voluntarily joined the alliance.
The commanders said the move had been coordinated with field leadership and the RSF command structure.
They also instructed their personnel to treat the new arrivals respectfully and ensure their safety.
The leadership of Group 117 subsequently appealed to other Sudanese military personnel, particularly those stationed in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, to reconsider their positions and join TASIS.
The commanders said they remained prepared to receive soldiers who voluntarily chose to leave the military and join the alliance.
The number and ranks of those reportedly joining TASIS were not disclosed, and their identities could not be independently verified.
The Sudanese military has not been independently confirmed to have acknowledged the reported defections.
The announcement comes as TASIS forces continue operations across several fronts, including Blue Nile and Kordofan, where control of strategic locations has repeatedly shifted during the conflict.
TASIS has called on soldiers serving under the Port Sudan authorities to lay down their weapons, with the alliance previously pledging humane treatment for military personnel who surrender.
The latest reported defections, if confirmed, would represent another development in the alliance’s efforts to attract personnel from Sudan’s existing military formations.
