
A senior official in Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has accused General al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) and allied Islamist factions of securing advanced weaponry, including Iranian-made drones, in exchange for ceding influence to Tehran.
The RSF official claimed the SAF deployed Shahed-129 drones during its operation to retake Wad Madani in Gezira state, a city previously held by RSF forces for over a year. General al-Burhan’s SAF and Islamist militias entered the city last Saturday after RSF withdrawal.
In a recorded address to his forces, RSF commander General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) attributed the SAF’s success in Wad Madani to Iranian drones.
Dagalo further alleged the SAF was employing foreign mercenaries, including fighters from Ethiopia’s Tigray region and Eritrea’s Popular Front.
Dagalo accused General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the SAF chief, of operating under the influence of figures from Sudan’s former Islamist regime, including Ali Karti, Ahmed Haroun, and Osama Abdullah. He added that RSF intelligence had been monitoring their meetings in Omdurman.
Iran’s Role and Weapons Allegations
Ayoub Nahar, an advisor to Dagalo, echoed concerns about continued Iranian support for the military and its Islamist allies. He asserted that the Saf used a range of Iranian-made weapons, including heavy and light arms, during the Wad Madani offensive.
Nahar accused Burhan and his allies of prioritizing their grip on power over Sudan’s sovereignty. “They are willing to sacrifice the nation’s unity and resources for weapons,” he said, warning that Tehran’s involvement aims to divide Sudan politically while exploiting its resources.
Global monitoring organizations and international media have previously reported on the presence of Iranian drones and weapons in Sudan, he added.
Islamist Influence and Regional Implications
Political analyst Omar Mohamed al-Noor linked Iran’s renewed engagement in Sudan to its historical ties with Sudanese Islamist factions, established during former dictator Omar al-Bashir’s tenure. Noor claimed the ongoing war between the SAF and RSF provided a gateway for these factions to revive their alliance with Tehran.
Noor alleged that a militia group aligned with the Islamists, known as Al-Baraa bin Malik, has been trained in Iran to operate drones. He cited a leaked video of a SAF officer acknowledging the militia’s role in drone operations.
Local reports have highlighted the use of incendiary weapons during recent aerial bombings in Khartoum and Darfur, with speculation linking these weapons to Iranian origins. Last week, an airstrike in southern Khartoum reportedly killed over 20 people.
RSF Calls for International Intervention
The RSF condemned Iran’s alleged military support for the SAF, urging the international community to intervene. In a statement, the RSF described the use of Iranian drones as a violation of Sudanese sovereignty and a threat to regional stability, particularly in the Red Sea corridor.
The group also claimed to have shot down an Iranian Shahed-129 drone over Bahri, north of Khartoum, during an operation targeting civilians. They called for global condemnation of foreign interventions exacerbating the Sudanese conflict.
The SAF has not yet responded to the RSF’s allegations.