Khartoum, April 11 (Darfur24)
A senior commander in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has defected and joined the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), leading a convoy of combat vehicles, in a development that may signal growing internal fractures within the paramilitary group.
Sources told Darfur24 that Brigadier General Al-Nur al-Qubba defected from the RSF and aligned himself with the army, reportedly commanding a force of around 21 combat vehicles, while a government official estimated the number at closer to 100 vehicles.
According to the sources, Al-Qubba’s decision was driven by mounting tensions within the RSF leadership following its takeover of El Fasher in October 2025. He was reportedly angered after being overlooked for command of the 6th Division, a position instead given to Major General Jadu Ibn Shouk.
The sources said Al-Qubba, who had led the “Shield of Peace” unit during the battles of El Fasher, withdrew to his village in North Darfur for more than seven months after the appointment, amid growing dissatisfaction.
Efforts by RSF leadership to resolve the dispute reportedly failed. Sources indicated that RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo dispatched a delegation to negotiate with Al-Qubba, but he expressed frustration over what he viewed as a lack of recognition for his role, as well as increasing pressure from his tribal and family circles.
Sources also revealed that contacts between Al-Qubba and Sudanese army leadership had begun earlier, before recent RSF movements in the Mustariha area. Tribal leader Musa Hilal is believed to have played a key mediating role in facilitating the defection.
Al-Qubba is also thought to have contributed to securing Hilal’s departure from Mustariha to areas under army control, following an escalation in tensions in the region, including a reported drone attack targeting Hilal last February.
In recent weeks, RSF forces reportedly intensified their military presence around Al-Qubba’s location, increasing pressure on him and accelerating his decision to defect. Sources said he left his village two days ago, with indications that the Sudanese army may have provided air cover to secure his movement.
The defection comes amid ongoing fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF since April 2023, with both sides seeking to consolidate control over key areas across the country.