By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A commander from the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Abuagla Keikal along with his troops have defected to the army, first of such move by a top figure since April last year when war broke out between the two sides, the army has said.
Supporters of the army posted photos online where Keikal purportedly moved back to the army.
He was a former army officer who became the RSF’s top commander in the southeastern state of El Gezira when he first defected.
The RSF in response published a statement alleging that Keikal had switched sides after a “deal,” saying that it had inflicted losses on the forces that defected with him in the east of El Gezira state, where Keikal is from.
Keikal had decided to make the move because of the RSF’s “destructive agenda”, the army, which has recently reported gains against the RSF in parts of the capital fired back.
Keikal, who was a military intelligence officer before the war was yet to make any comment.
The RSF has seized control of large parts of Sudan in a conflict with the army that the United Nations says has caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The war has displaced more than 10 million people, driven parts of the country to extreme hunger or famine, and drawn in foreign powers that have given both sides material support.
Heritage Times HT reports that the conflict began in April 2023 when tensions between the RSF and the army escalated. Both sides have been jostling for position ahead of an internationally backed transition to civilian rule.
The army and the RSF had previously shared power after staging a coup in 2021, two years after the former leader, Omar al-Bashir was toppled in a popular uprising.
The UN had earlier raised concern that millions of women in the country live under the threat of gender-based violence arising from the war in its 18th month. .
At least 600,000 pregnant women live in uncertainty as health facilities in the country have seriously deteriorated in the war.
